Film adaptations and bowdlerized versions have reduced Frankenstein's creation to a ludicrous monster and in a sense the world has reacted to the creature in precisely the way the author predicted.
Although it has been included in the genre of horror tales it is not so much a horror story, but more a tragedy. It's a story of scientist who creates an artificial being in attempt to understand the secrets of life. However when he gazes upon the hideous countenance of his creation he rejects it automatically thereby avoiding total responsibility for his actions. This of course brings about some negative repercussions for Dr.Frankenstein as his creation seeks revenge for his rejection.
Unlike the way that this creature has been portrayed in most of the movies, the creature in this book has some intellect for it had taught itself to read and speak. Which is impressive as this man-made being never gone to school or had a tutor to help. Also this character displays a human sense of empathy when it is able to identify with some of the people in the books that it was able to read. Obviously the author Mary Shelley had portrayed this creature in such a way as to gain sympathy for it from the reader.
Even after this creature kills the wife of Dr.Frankenstein one still feels more sympathy for his creation rather than Frankenstein himself. The creator it seems is not so god-like in this novel for after he creates the hideous looking creature he abandons it and any responsibility for it. One wonders seriously if this man ever thought about the consequences of his actions or whether he just did it to prove himself god-like? If so maybe his ego was more in control than his intellect. That's probably why when he saw ugly the creature was he turned away from it rather than face the fact that he had botched up his creation's appearance. If he were truly dedicated to his work than he would have or should have attempted some plastic surgery to remedy the hideous appearance of his man-made being.