In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein’s motivations for creating the monster are never fully clear. However, there are several possible reasons that may have motivated him to do so.
1. The most obvious motivation for creating the monster is to play God and create life. This is confirmed by Frankenstein himself when he says, “I am like a child playing with chemicals, and I don’t know how to use them.”
2. Another possible reason for creating the monster may be revenge on those who had wronged him—perhaps his family or society at large. In this case, it would be easier to understand why he would want someone else to carry out his revenge for him than it would be if he wanted to do it himself.
3. The monster itself may represent all that Frankenstein perceives as ugly and unnatural in the world: “I looked on my work; [the monster] was hideous and ghastly in aspect.” This explanation might also tie into the idea that Frankenstein created a companion for himself; if so, he could have seen his creation as ugly because it was not human-like enough to make a good companion.
