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The Other is the Monster and must be destroyed
Why, then, must the Monster be destroyed? One answer is that the creature is a manifestation of the monstrosity that lurks within Victor.
In a lengthy essay, Rhonda Ray Kercsmar cites Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic theories to explain Frankenstein's rejection of his creation. According to Kercsmar, there is a fragmentation of consciousness that influences the monster. The fragmentation is what drives the being to seek a unity or completeness by finding his "lost Other." In telling about the monster's desire to reunite with its Other (Dr. Frankenstein), Shelley is describing a central psychological drive that takes place in all human narratives. But, this desire for reunion can never occur according to Lacan. Consequently, Victor Frankenstein is horrified and runs away from his creation. Kerscmar states, "The plot to Frankenstein is structured by the creature's quest for reunion with his creator/Other, a failed quest that ultimately leads to the destruction of both" (Kercsmar 731). Ironically then, after attaining his goal of creating life, Frankenstein is pursued by his creation. His desire to transcend accepted knowledge is met by the monster's desire to seek its lost Other.
The resulting saga produced by Shelley exemplifies themes that were born from the romantic era. Along with the liberation of European revolutions came high ideals and a strong belief in man's influence over his environment. With the perspective of Shelley's novel however, the reader can see the harsh reality that takes hold of such ideals. In the case of Frankenstein, his aspiration for supernatural powers and knowledge created a monster who tormented him until the day he died. He sought a fame greater than his nature would allow and, while his monster knew nothing but a desire to be accepted and reunited with his creator, Frankenstein's own "overreaching" ambition was met with disillusionment.
Now that Victor has succeeded in his project, he fails to reconcile his creation and "father" it properly. It is this act of rejection that motivates the monster on a destructive path. Though the monster has intelligence and learns language, literature and politics while spying on the De Lacey family, they too reject him and this again results in destruction. With the prejudice of sight, people have no choice but to reject him as an unnatural, monstrous "other". Victor must bear the guilt of the death of others at the hands of his monster. Victor loses any chance of restoring his own happiness as it claims the lives of those dearest to him, especially his intended- Elizabeth. Sworn to see to its destruction, Victor chases the monster to the ends of the earth, where he is revived long enough to relate his story to the last witness, Walton. Victor passes away, unable to reclaim his monster. Walton witnesses the "wretch" in one last scene, hovering over the body of his creator. The monster swears to consume himself in a funeral pile and departs, "borne away by the waves, and lost in darkness and distance" (223).
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