John Locke’s very influential text ‘An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding’ explores the concept that the mind is formed through experience – nothing is innate. Shelley clearly plays with this concept throughout the novel. The Creature undergoes its own version of aging and is at first child-like and unable to talk, communicating only with facial expressions before becoming an articulate individual capable of complex human emotions. Throughout the novel seemingly innocent acts are described through Frankenstein’s perspective as monstrous. Take for instance his first interaction a “[…]grin[…]” (Shelley p.93). Alone, a grin connotes positivity, a smile yet before the interaction is even described Frankenstein has already characterized the Creature as a “[…]wretch[…]” and a “[…]miserable monster[…]” (Shelley p.93). Without this narrative perspective the interaction appears innocent and even child-like in its approach. The environment of the Creature teaches cruelty, pain and fear; for example, he enters the villager’s building (let’s remember Frankenstein never taught him to knock) and is chased away aggressively. Shelley made the Creature articulate for a specific purpose – to justify his actions. He describes his soul as “[…]glow[ing] with love and humanity[…]” (p.230) upon birth which coincides with his first action, the grin, yet his environment pushed him down an alternate course.
For me, Shelley raises the ethical issue of how morally responsible we all are for the actions of others. If the mind is indeed formed and created through environment, how far can we blame an individual for their actions? This relates to issues of justice. The Creature’s creator Frankenstein is morally responsible for his upbringing and he fails miserably. Had he taught the Creature kindness would the deaths in the novel occurred? The novel explores quite clearly the moral implications not just of artificial creation but questions of influence and the moral implications of cruel actions upon the innocent. How far can our actions be considered our own and who should be held responsible for the immoral behaviour of others?
Megan Sales is a 3rd English Literature Student.