What are the Creature’s Motivations in Frankenstein?

Author: Martin Munyao Muinde
Email: ephantusmartin@gmail.com

Introduction

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) is one of the most studied novels in English literature because of its exploration of science, morality, identity, and human relationships. At the heart of the story lies the Creature, a being created by Victor Frankenstein who struggles with rejection, loneliness, and a deep desire for belonging. The question “What are the creature’s motivations in Frankenstein?” is crucial because understanding his desires provides insight into the themes of the novel, including alienation, morality, and human responsibility. The Creature is not a one-dimensional figure of horror but a complex character whose actions are driven by psychological, social, and emotional forces. By examining his motivations, readers gain a deeper understanding of Shelley’s critique of society, science, and the human condition.

The Creature’s Desire for Acceptance and Companionship

One of the central motivations of the Creature in Frankenstein is his deep desire for acceptance and companionship. From the moment of his creation, he experiences rejection. His creator, Victor Frankenstein, abandons him out of horror and disgust, leaving the Creature to fend for himself in a world that fears his appearance (Shelley, 1818/1993). Despite his physical deformity, the Creature longs for human connection and demonstrates an initial innocence. He observes the De Lacey family in secret, hoping to learn language, culture, and affection by watching their interactions. His wish to be part of their lives reflects his natural inclination toward companionship and love.

The importance of this motivation is highlighted in the scene where the Creature finally attempts to reveal himself to the blind father of the De Lacey family. He believes that because the man cannot see his physical deformity, he might judge him on his words and emotions instead. Unfortunately, the family reacts violently when they discover his presence, reinforcing his isolation. This rejection becomes a defining moment in shaping the Creature’s motivations. His desire for acceptance remains constant, but his inability to achieve it transforms into resentment and anger toward both his creator and humanity (Mellor, 1988).

The Motivation for Love and Understanding

The Creature’s yearning goes beyond mere acceptance; he craves love and understanding. His ability to articulate his feelings demonstrates that he possesses the emotional depth of a human being. He experiences loneliness and anguish because he cannot find anyone who will look past his appearance. This desire for love is poignantly expressed when he begs Victor to create a female companion for him. He explains that such a partner would alleviate his misery, offering him the chance to share emotions and establish a bond that human society has denied him (Shelley, 1818/1993).

This motivation for love underscores the Creature’s humanity. He does not initially seek revenge or violence but rather desires a meaningful relationship. His request for a companion highlights themes of social and emotional interdependence, showing that even a being created through unnatural means cannot survive without love and intimacy. However, Victor’s refusal to fulfill this request intensifies the Creature’s despair, fueling his transformation from a sympathetic character into a vengeful force. Thus, his motivation for love, when unmet, becomes the foundation for his later destructive actions (Levine & Knoepflmacher, 1979).

The Motivation for Revenge

Another powerful motivation driving the Creature is revenge. After repeated rejections from both Victor and society, he begins to channel his pain into acts of vengeance. The killing of William, Victor’s younger brother, represents the turning point where his desire for acceptance transforms into anger and retaliation. By targeting William, the Creature expresses his rage against Victor and humanity, punishing his creator for bringing him into a world where he is unloved and despised (Shelley, 1818/1993).

The motivation for revenge continues throughout the novel, as the Creature systematically attacks those closest to Victor, including Clerval and Elizabeth. His revenge is not only a punishment for Victor’s abandonment but also a distorted attempt to make Victor feel the same loneliness and despair that he himself endures. The escalation of his revenge highlights how rejection and neglect can deform not just the body but also the spirit. Shelley presents revenge as a corrosive motivation that deepens the cycle of suffering, showing how Victor’s irresponsibility breeds destruction. This transformation from a being motivated by love to one consumed by revenge demonstrates the devastating consequences of neglect and alienation (Botting, 1996).

The Motivation for Justice and Recognition

Beyond companionship and revenge, the Creature is motivated by a sense of justice and recognition. He desires acknowledgment not just as a physical being but as a moral and intellectual entity. His eloquence and ability to articulate his pain show that he views himself as more than a monster. He reminds Victor repeatedly that he did not choose to be created, and therefore he deserves compassion and fairness. His demand for a female companion is framed not merely as a plea for love but as a matter of justice. He argues that since Victor gave him life, he has a responsibility to ensure that his existence is not filled with misery (Shelley, 1818/1993).

This motivation reveals the Creature’s sense of morality. He is aware of ethical obligations and recognizes that Victor has failed in his duties as a creator. Even his acts of revenge can be interpreted as a demand for recognition, as he forces Victor to see him not as an experiment but as a being with emotions and agency. His pursuit of justice highlights Shelley’s critique of a society that marginalizes those who are different. By framing his motivations within the language of fairness and responsibility, Shelley positions the Creature as a tragic figure whose moral awareness contrasts with Victor’s moral blindness (Mellor, 1988).

The Motivation for Self-Education and Knowledge

Another important motivation of the Creature is his thirst for self-education and knowledge. After his creation, he does not remain an unformed being but actively seeks to learn language, history, and human culture. Through reading works such as Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives, and Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, he develops intellectual sophistication and philosophical depth (Shelley, 1818/1993). This pursuit of knowledge reflects his desire to understand himself and his place in the world.

The significance of this motivation lies in the contrast it creates with Victor’s own pursuit of knowledge. While Victor seeks scientific mastery over nature, the Creature seeks moral, emotional, and social understanding. His education gives him the tools to articulate his suffering and to recognize the injustices he faces. However, his knowledge also deepens his despair, as it makes him more aware of the gulf between himself and humanity. His motivation for knowledge thus becomes both a source of empowerment and pain, underscoring the theme that knowledge can both enlighten and destroy (Punter & Byron, 2004).

The Motivation for Connection with His Creator

Despite his hatred for Victor, the Creature is motivated by a deep desire for connection with his creator. His repeated confrontations with Victor reveal that he seeks acknowledgment, dialogue, and recognition from the man who abandoned him. When he demands that Victor listen to his story, he shows that he does not merely want to be seen as a monster but as a being with emotions and reasoning capacity. His pursuit of Victor across different landscapes demonstrates his need for a relationship, however antagonistic, with his creator (Shelley, 1818/1993).

This motivation emphasizes the theme of responsibility in Frankenstein. The Creature does not exist in isolation; his identity and suffering are bound to Victor’s choices. By seeking interaction with Victor, the Creature symbolically demands that humanity face the consequences of its actions. His motivation for connection reveals his need for closure and justice, even when expressed through conflict. Ultimately, the dynamic between Victor and the Creature illustrates the broader theme of creation and accountability, showing that the bond between creator and creation cannot be severed without consequences (Levine & Knoepflmacher, 1979).

Conclusion

In answering the question, “What are the creature’s motivations in Frankenstein?” it becomes clear that Mary Shelley’s novel presents the Creature as a complex character driven by deeply human desires. His motivations range from the pursuit of acceptance, love, and companionship, to the darker impulses of revenge and anger. He seeks justice, recognition, and education, and he remains bound to his creator through a need for acknowledgment and responsibility. These motivations highlight the themes of alienation, morality, and the consequences of neglect. Shelley’s portrayal of the Creature challenges readers to see beyond appearances and to recognize the humanity within the so-called monster. His motivations reveal that he is not inherently evil but is shaped by rejection, abandonment, and the failure of his creator. By exploring the Creature’s desires, Shelley presents a timeless critique of society’s treatment of the marginalized and a cautionary tale about the ethical responsibilities that accompany scientific and creative power.

References

• Baldick, C. (1987). In Frankenstein’s Shadow: Myth, Monstrosity, and Nineteenth-Century Writing. Oxford University Press.

• Botting, F. (1996). Gothic. Routledge.

• Levine, G., & Knoepflmacher, U. C. (Eds.). (1979). The Endurance of Frankenstein: Essays on Mary Shelley’s Novel. University of California Press.

• Mellor, A. K. (1988). Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters. Routledge.

• Punter, D., & Byron, G. (2004). The Gothic. Blackwell Publishing.

• Shelley, M. (1993). Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818 Text). Oxford University Press.