Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a cornerstone of gothic literature, delving into themes of creation, abandonment, and the very essence of humanity. Within this complex narrative, Shelley draws upon rich literary and biblical allusions to deepen our understanding of Victor Frankenstein’s creature and his tragic plight. One of the most prominent comparisons Shelley employs is to Adam from John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. This comparison is not merely a literary flourish; it is central to understanding the creature’s identity, his relationship with his creator, and the profound sense of injustice that fuels his actions.
Shelley herself explicitly points to this comparison through an epigraph at the beginning of Frankenstein, quoting Adam’s lament from Paradise Lost: “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay / To mould me into Man? Did I solicit thee / From darkness to promote me?”. This sets the stage for understanding the creature’s perspective. Like Adam, the creature is brought into existence without his consent, and this initial lack of agency is a source of profound grievance. Just as Adam questions God’s purpose in his creation after the fall, the creature questions Victor’s right to bring him into a world that immediately rejects him.
The parallels extend beyond this initial quote. In Paradise Lost, Adam is created in God’s image and placed in a paradisiacal garden. While the creature in Frankenstein is also a form of creation, his world is far from Edenic. He is thrust into a world that recoils from his appearance, experiencing immediate rejection and fear. This stark contrast highlights a crucial difference: while Adam is initially accepted and loved by his creator, the creature is instantly abhorred by Victor. Victor’s famous exclamation, “My abhorrence of this fiend cannot be conceived,” encapsulates this immediate and devastating rejection, echoing the pain of abandonment that resonates with Adam’s expulsion from Eden, though in a crueler, more personal context.
Further deepening the Adam comparison is the creature’s own education. He discovers Paradise Lost and identifies deeply with Adam’s narrative. Through Milton’s epic, the creature learns about concepts of good and evil, creation and divinity, and the human longing for connection with a creator. He initially sees himself as akin to humanity, believing he shares a similar origin and perhaps a similar destiny. However, the harsh reality of his existence and the discovery of Victor’s journal shatter this illusion. He learns he is not divinely created but rather “pieced together from an assortment of unwanted segments and scraps.” This realization is his fall from grace, his expulsion from any imagined Edenic state. He understands he is fundamentally different, denied the inherent worth and potential for redemption he reads about in Milton.
The creature’s yearning for acceptance and his subsequent descent into despair and rage mirror Adam’s post-Eden trajectory. Just as Adam experiences the consequences of disobedience and separation from divine grace, the creature experiences the agony of isolation and rejection by his creator and all of humankind. This rejection, perceived as unwarranted and cruel, fuels his transformation from a being capable of compassion and learning into a figure of vengeance and terror. It’s crucial to note that Shelley deliberately avoids using the word “monster” to describe the creature, further emphasizing his humanity and inviting reader sympathy. By experiencing the story from the creature’s perspective, we are compelled to recognize his pain and understand his actions as a consequence of profound mistreatment, much like we might sympathize with Adam’s plight after the fall.
In conclusion, Mary Shelley’s comparison of her creature to Adam in Frankenstein is a powerful and multifaceted literary device. It serves to illuminate the creature’s initial innocence, his subsequent suffering, and the profound injustice of his abandonment. By drawing on the well-known narrative of Adam and Paradise Lost, Shelley provides a rich framework for understanding the creature’s quest for identity, his desperate need for connection, and the tragic consequences of his creator’s rejection. This comparison is key to the enduring power of Frankenstein, prompting readers to consider not only the dangers of unchecked ambition but also the ethical responsibilities inherent in creation and the devastating impact of societal alienation.
