Master or Slave?

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

A motif expressed in this novel is the comparison of a slave and a master. As Victor studied at Ingolstadt, his education consumed him. He became the slave to his work but the master of his field of science. While creating the monster, he held full control over his creation; however, when the monster came to life, Victor lost his authority over the monster. This being was more powerful and seemed to have more intellectual capabilities than Victor.The monster ruled over Victor like a dictator. The monster instilled fear in Victor by threatening to kill his family. "You are my creator, but I am your master; -obey" (Shelley, 122). The creature felt superior to Victor even though Victor gave the creature life. Despite this feeling of superiority, Victor maintained some aspect of control over the creature. Victor was the only person capable of creating a female companion for the creature. Victor could have used this as leverage against the creature to comply with Victor's requests. Instead, the creature overpowered Victor by threatening Victor's family.

Interestingly at the end of the novel, the creature seemed to be upset by Victor's death. The creature, who held the role as the master for most of the novel, claimed that he was the slave. "...but I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey" (Shelley, 164). The creature was not the slave to Victor, but he was the slave to his desire to be accepted. Just as Victor's education enslaved him, the creature's lust for relationships enslaved him.