Why the Monster Killed Elizabeth in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” — A Cautionary Story of Unchecked Ambition
We all love dark fiction, don’t we? One of the founders of dark science fiction was someone named Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” explores many themes and ideas related to the nature of humanity. If you haven’t read the novel, I would recommend reading it because you are missing out on a great piece of literature.
The novel explicitly shows the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of knowledge at any cost.
The novel’s main character, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, becomes fixated on the idea of creating life and refuses to listen to the warnings of those around him, ultimately leading to the creation of the creature and the tragic events that follow.
What the Novel Frankenstein Stands For
Through the character of Victor, Shelley suggests that humans have a tendency to become obsessed with their own ideas and goals and that this obsession can lead to disastrous consequences.
The novel also explores the dangers of rejecting or ostracizing those who are different or perceived as “other,” as the creature is rejected and mistreated by humans because of his appearance.
Interestingly, I find the caution for our inventions going out of the way in even the earliest novels. Mary Shelley didn’t say anything that the George Orwell of 1984 or the modern cautionary sci-fi tales of AI don’t tell. The theme is recurring. Currently, there is AI. In the 1800s, there was Frankenstein. All warn humans about the harms of unchecked ambition.
One of the Main Highlights of the Novel Frankenstein — the Murder of Elizabeth
Anyone who has read the novel knows how tragic the fate of Elizabeth is. She is a beautiful, young, and innocent woman who is unaware of the grim future that awaits her. When Dr. Victor creates the creature named the “Monster,” he is scared of what he created in the first place.
Moving forward in the novel, the Monster comes across Elizabeth and is outright struck by her beauty.
He begins to follow her and watch over her from a distance. The creature also saves Elizabeth from being drowned by a band of villagers, showing that he is protective of her.
However, the creature’s feelings towards Elizabeth are complex and ambivalent. On the one hand, he seems to care for her and wants to protect her. On the other hand, the creature also recognizes his status as a hideous creature and that he is not capable of being with Elizabeth in the way that he desires.
It is hard to say that the Monster truly loves Elizabeth, as his motivations and emotions are complex and multifaceted. It is clear, however, that Elizabeth represents a kind of ideal for the creature and that he is deeply affected by her presence in his life.
The Tragedy! An Example of Human Trait
The tragedy strikes when the Monster is rejected by the humans for his appearance. The Monster then becomes angry and fixated on getting revenge on his creator. In the tragic turn of events, the Monster ends up killing Elizabeth. Interestingly, the reasons for the Monster attempting such a murder of someone he loved were very human.
Firstly, the creature has become increasingly angry and vengeful towards his creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and sees Elizabeth’s death as a way to hurt him. The creature believes that by killing Elizabeth, he will be able to punish Victor for abandoning him and rejecting him as a being.
Secondly, the creature is motivated by a desire for revenge against humanity as a whole, as he has suffered greatly at the hands of humans who have rejected and mistreated him because of his appearance. The creature sees Elizabeth as a symbol of innocence and purity, and by killing her, he is able to strike a blow against humanity and all that it represents.
Third, the creature may also see Elizabeth’s death as a way to end his own suffering. The creature is deeply unhappy and feels isolated and alone, and he may believe that by causing Elizabeth’s death, he will be able to bring an end to his own misery.
All of these reveal that unchecked ambition, rejection of differences, and mistreatment of someone based on their appearance can have dire consequences. Though the Monster was otherworldly, his behaviour was very human, and the desire for revenge and hatred overcame everything.
The most tragic part is that Elizabeth never met him. If she had met him, she might have treated him differently.