Prima (Fair) PisuttisarunProfessor Peter LehmanCom Lit 4CW2 February 2015Close Reading on FrankensteinIn the second volume of Frankenstein, Victors first direct encounter with his creation allowed readers to learn about the Creatures backstory, in which the Creatures hideous appearance and anatomical incompleteness causes fear and disgust to those around him. The Creature experiences isolation and detestation despite his benevolent actions. His intentions to help the De Laceys family and the young girl are perceived to be evil by those who can see his monstrous exterior. However, through learning about the Creatures experience with humans from his perspective, Shelley points out a significant flaw in humans. It is the concealed monstrosity within humans, which is also embodied in Victors character. Victor is the personification of a monster that single-mindedly and egotistically challenges the conducts of nature without considering any ethical responsibilities. As Victor alienates himself from the society by traveling to England, his loneliness and despair can be compared to the Creatures. By distancing himself from humanity, Victor becomes more like the monster as he continues to construct a female counterpart of the Creature.To demonstrate Victors suffering from social alienation, Shelley dehumanizes Victor to the extent that his humanness can be questioned. Again, Victor is intently fixed on the consummation of [his] labour (Shelley 169) and blinded by his employment. This suggests that Victor is consumed by his dark passions in defying nature. Although he does realize the obscure forebodings of evil (Shelley 169) that could occur due to his creation of the Creatures Eve, Victor continues his labor in fear of his persecutor. By personifying the Creature as a persecutor, Shelley emphasizes the role reversal in Victors and the Creatures relationship. In this scene, Victor is no longer his creations master; Victor has become his slave (Shelley 172). Additionally, as Victor begins his work, he is dehumanized to a cold blood and heart sickened (Shelley 169) monster. Moreover, by using fellow-creatures (Shelley 169) to describe mankind, Victor has accepted his status as an abhorred creature. The lack of natures sublimity as shown by the desolate and appalling landscape (Shelley 169) further draws the connection between nature and Victors state.In a sense, Shelleys characterization of Victor as the Creature and vice-versa suggests the possibility that the Creature is Victors doppelgnger. The creature portrays the shadow-self of Victor, and his selfish and egotistical needs. Hence, Victors refusal to acknowledge his dark side leads to the deaths of his loved ones and ultimately, his downfall.

Work CitedShelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1831. London: Penguin Books. 2003. Print. 169-172.