Nature of the Monster
Is the creature inherently evil, or does society make him a monster? Compare his initial gentleness with the De Lacey family to his later violence. What role does Victor’s abandonment play in his transformation?
Creator and Creation
Analyze the parallel between Victor and the creature. Both are isolated, both pursue knowledge, and both are destroyed by their ambitions. How does Shelley use this symmetry to comment on responsibility?
Romantic Context
Frankenstein emerged from the Romantic era and the 1816 ‘Year Without a Summer.’ How do themes of nature, individualism, and scientific hubris reflect Romantic anxieties about the Industrial Revolution?