Mary Shelley's gothic novel Frankenstein is a tale of an ambitious scientist who succeeds in creating life from deceased body parts. Although intended to be the perfect human being, Victor describes a demonic creature with "yellow skin" that " scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath" (Shelley 58). The creature turns out to be a disfigured being, whom Frankenstein considers a monster and ultimately abandons. The abandonment of the monster drives him to declare vengeance against everyone Victor loves. Victor considers the creature to be a monster because it resembles the basic interpretation of a monster: ugly, grotesque and daunting. However, a closer glance at the monster's actions reveals many human characteristics. Undoubtedly, the creature is emotional, self-conscious and intelligent. .
Similar to a human, the creature is capable of experiencing complex emotions. Throughout the course of his life, the creature experiences various feelings of happiness, joy and excitement. However, his emotional capability is at its peak when he is corrupted by evil, anger and resentment. When the cottagers blatantly reject the creature due to his grotesque appearance, the creature is overwhelmed by rage, exclaiming, "For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death" (Shelley 140). The creature's desire to seek vengeance is a trait common in humans, but absent in animals. His rage negatively skews his view of humans, and it ultimately drives him to commit acts of irrational evil. As a result, his immense rage and hatred indicate that he is fully capable of processing emotions and having his judgment impaired by the rush of emotions. Frankenstein's creation, although considered a monster, exhibits human emotions and wishes to love and to be loved.
