John Milton's Paradise Lost
Throughout her novel, Mary Shelley, directly and indirectly, references to John Milton’s Paradise Lost. When the creature flees and hides in a shack outside the house of the De Lacey family, a group of peasants, he comes across a copy of Milton’s writing and reads it. The poem consists of the biblical story of the “Fall of Man” caused by Satan’s deceitfulness.
Upon reading the poem, the creature realizes he is actually a monster – he identifies himself with Satan rather than Adam. He says his condition was far too different from that of Adam. The creature states Adam was “a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator” while he was “wretched, helpless and alone”. He comes to the conclusion that Satan, therefore, was the “fitter emblem of my condition” (Shelley 143-144).
The creature also complains to Victor about the loneliness he has experienced during all of his existence. He tried looking for companionship and human connections, but he was only despised and rejected by men. The creature considers himself to be in an inferior state than Satan; he states “Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested” (Shelley 144). While reading Paradise Lost, he also notes that God saw it was not good for man to be alone, and therefore made a woman and gave her to Adam to serve as his wife and companion. He then requests Victor to make him a companion “of the same species, and have the same defects” (Shelley 155).
Shelley not only alludes to Milton’s Paradise Lost directly but also indirectly throughout the text. By analyzing each character’s traits and downfall, it becomes clear that Milton’s characters inspired the creation of the characters seen Frankenstein. In Shelley’s novel, the creature plays a similar role to that of God in that he decides to punish Victor for not conceding to his request of giving him a companion. On the other hand, he is like Satan since he defies his creator, rejecting social norms and hierarchy.
Victor Frankenstein is much like God because he creates and gives life to his creature; however, unlike God, he fails to provide for the needs of his creation. In addition, Frankenstein’s character is also Adam-like since he was once innocent, but his search for knowledge causes him to fall from God’s grace, and endure permanent consequences from his actions.
