Victor as a Mad Scientist in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Essay Example

The mad scientist is an eccentric and sometimes villainous character. One could argue that a mad scientist has a God-like complex to their personality and relates to another archetype of “playing God.” Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein imitates the deranged scientist archetype throughout the novel as he strives to reanimate lifeless matter. His unstable mindset causes him to be in a delusional state of mind which heavily affects his family and social life.

From the beginning, Victor Frankenstein was introduced as someone who was infatuated with learning and can be perceived as incredibly persistent and dedicated. Early in the novel, the reader gets a glimpse of Victor's extensive studies as he begins his efforts to bring life to his creation. On page 40, Mary Shelley writes, “I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.” In this citation, the author represents very well how Victor could not be mindful of anything but what he had spent so long yearning for. This perfectly expresses how even Victor knew he was isolating himself from the rest of society. This isolation caused him a certain distress and this was caused not only by his dedication to his work but by the work itself. Once Victor saw his creation come to life, he was horrified at what he had created and was filled with instant regret despite his years of studies and research to master the invention. 

Additionally, Victor becomes ill from his constant struggle and lack of rest. This drew his family’s attention to his lack of response when writing letters and communication with Henry Clerval. Henry visits Victor and as they converse, Clerval says, “My dear Victor…How ill are you? What is the cause of all this? (Shelley 47). It is explained that Victor has contracted a crippling fever that had him bedridden for months. Elizabeth in turn becomes very concerned for Victor and his well-being. She begs for him to return home to his family, however when he does, he is not his usual self. Disturbed, he wonders “...was I really as mad as the whole world would believe me to be?” (Shelley 72). Not only has Victor’s creation and troubled mind caused him terror, but now it has affected the way he speaks to his friends and family as he is scared his monster will harm those he loves.

Furthermore, Victor’s continuous worry for his loved ones grows as Justine is executed for the murder of his brother William. Victor himself believes the creature is the true culprit for this heinous crime, but is still grieving the loss of Justine. The creature has now caused so much havoc that his creator believes he must kill himself before he gets killed. It is stated, “The wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrodden brake, there the gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die – was but a type of me” (Shelley 81). The creature has a set agenda and plots his demise on those that have wronged him after the many ways he was mistreated by humans. As previously mentioned, the creature was a major cause of Frankenstein’s madness and now not only was he going mad over its creation and destruction, but it was now a desire of his to destroy it. Victor sets out to kill his own “child” which is the creature to end his misery and discomfort.

To conclude, a mad scientist is surely what many perceive Victor as due to his unhealthy obsession with his research and his personal isolation in his laboratory to reanimate dead material. Spending time doing so, Victor struggled to rest and take care of himself because he was infatuated with the idea of having his own creation of life or having something worship him as its creator. Although he did succeed, flaws were apparent and they were put on Victor to handle, thus adding to his delusions and faulty judgment.