★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
One of the most interesting things in Shelley's novel is a parallel she creates between Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Both of them are highly intelligent beings with a great thirst for knowledge as well as an extraordinary eloquence, moved by the beauty of nature and human kindness and led, at first, only by good and noble thoughts. They also both end up in misery, wanting for themselves nothing but the death of one another. The parallels point to a special connection between the two, similar to that between God and man. However, while God created (man) in his own image, Frankenstein hasn't, as the "daemon" laments: "...but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid from its very resemblance."
There is boldness in Victor's undertaking, but he is just human and thus bound to be fallible. Through his tragic story Shelley shows us our limitations and warns us of the danger of trying to prove ourselves almighty. She condemns the headless ambition of man and his thirst for knowledge showing how virtue can exist without those through a story of simple but noble sailor. Instead, as is visible in her beautiful descriptions of nature, she yearns for a peaceful life in balance with it.
Apparent is the critique of the society which tried to tame the nature to prove its superiority. It's most visible in the words Frankenstein speaks on his deathbed: "Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries." Yet he hasn't lived his life like that. Carried by unreasonable ambition to his downfall, which made him a wretch living only on thoughts of revenge, Frankenstein was, and still is, a warning to us all. Thus the parallels with the monster don't surprise, as well as people believing it is called Frankenstein...for it is.
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