Shelley consistently uses this method of planting thoughts and opinions about the characters in the reader's head, and at the moment she is trying to convey this image of Frankenstein as a man who has done wrong, and he knows he has to pay the price for his actions. .
In Chapter 5, Frankenstein is in his laboratory fusing life into his creature. As soon as it takes its first living breath, Frankenstein becomes horrified by what he has done, saying,.
How can I describe my emotions at this.
catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with.
such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?'.
He suddenly thinks that, by creating this monster, he has unleashed a terrible being into the world. Frankenstein cannot bear the thought they he worked on this thing for two years, neglecting his friends and everyone close to him - and now he has succeeded in his accomplishments, he cannot live with himself. It is at this point that he disowns' the monster, leaving it to go out into the world on its own. He decides he wants nothing more to do with it - he thinks it isn't my responsibility' and leaves it alone. Were these actions understandable? Frankenstein is like his monster's father - he has created a living being, who is confused in the world, and it totally dependent on him for everything, just like a baby does. In this way of thinking, Frankenstein no longer appears to be the kind, benevolent man he was before - he shows a side that is cruel and merciless. However, his actions could be justified; after all, he had just created a monster, and he suddenly became scared - not only scared of the monster, but scared of the life he would have to lead with him, raising him and teaching him the ways of our world. I don't think this practical' aspect had ever occurred to him before, and it made him afraid for his future. So in that sense, disowning the monster could have been the best thing to do in Frankenstein's situation.
