The real monster: man or creature? Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was born on August 30, 1797 to two renowned authors. Mary's mother died while giving birth and from then on her life was destined for literature. Her father's wife was cruel, so Mary confided in her literature. Mary met her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was sixteen. As she and Percy sailed, they told each other ghost stories. Mary, Percy and some friends set a challenge: who could compose the scariest ghost story. From this challenge came Frankenstein which she began in 1816. Mary completed the novel before the age of twenty, where it would become one of the most popular gothic horror novels of all time. At the time Shelley lived, science was progressing greatly. Science then became permanently linked to gothic horror because of the supernatural. Now for the story, who is Frankenstein? Frankenstein is not the actual creation, he is actually the creator of the creation (for the duration of this essay I will refer to the monster as he is referred to in the book, the creation). One of the most common mistakes made by people who have not read Frankenstein is that Dr. Frankenstein, known as Victor in the book, is portrayed as a mad scientist. This is definitely not true, he is human. To fully understand this essay, it is crucial to know the plot of Frankenstein. In a series of letters, Robert Walton tells his sister about the development of his operations. During this time, he is introduced to Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is on a sleigh pulled by snow dogs and is in serious need of medical attention. Robert takes Frankenstein to his ship where he regains health and tells the story of his life and creation....... middle of paper ...... his liver eaten every day by an eagle. Mary Shelley was a big fan of Romanticism. The creature is therefore evident in the work of God. A monster is not only characterized by its physical appearance but also by its actions and attitude. This is why Frankenstein's creation is not the real monster in this novel. Although he can express many monstrous qualities throughout the story, he has many more human qualities. The human characteristics of the creature far outweigh the monstrous ones and should be recognized by the reader. It is truly amazing how a creature with so much hatred and despair can have so many human qualities. Works Cited Milton, John. “Paradise lost”. New York: The Odyssey Press, 1935. Print. Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. “The modern Prometheus”. New York: New American Library, 1965. PrintSpark, Muriel. “Mary Shelley.” New York: Dutton, 1987.Print.