In Mary Shelley's iconic novel Frankenstein, the main character tries to create life from death. What drives Victor Frankenstein to undertake this bold experiment? First published in 1818, Frankenstein follows Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant scientist who creates a monster out of dead body parts and causes a lot of trouble. The reasons behind Frankenstein's creation of the monster are complicated and arise from a combination of ambition, the desire for glory and recognition, and his unrestrained arrogance.

First, one of the main reasons that Frankenstein creates the monster is to fulfill his dream of becoming a great scientist. From a young age, the secrets of life and death fascinate Frankenstein. He becomes obsessed with creating life from matter. Frankenstein is driven by a desire to unlock the mysteries of the universe and achieve a level of scientific mastery that no one has ever achieved before. Early in the book, Shelley reveals that Victor Frankenstein is consumed by his ambition, writing, “So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Victor — more, far more, will I achieve treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (Mary Shelley 28). By using the phrase “[s]o much has been done,” Shelley indicates that Victor is fully aware of what has already been created and discovered in science. However, he is still motivated to push the boundaries of science, which portrays his ambition and extreme desire to succeed. Victor says “more, far more, will I achieve” to dream about his future achievements in science. Frankenstein displays high levels of self-confidence and believes he can accomplish far more than others. Underneath all of his drive and tenacity, Victor still willingly learns from others’ mistakes. He wants to use his learnings to “pioneer a new way,” so he will not follow in others' footsteps but, rather, find his own way to succeed. Victor Frankenstein’s desire to discover the secrets of the universe result in his creation of the monster. This need to achieve tremendous scientific feats fuels his determination to create the monster, causing consequences he could never afford or expect.

In addition to his ambitions within the science industry, Victor Frankenstein’s deeper, inner desire for fame and glory leads him to create this monster. He believes his creation will be impressive and innovative enough to unlock wild success. Frankenstein’s goal is to be recognized as a genius for having accomplished what no one else ever has. He states, “My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path” (Mary Shelley 3). Specifically, how Frankenstein values fame more than material possessions continually motivates him. He sees glory as his primary goal in life. The phrase “enticement that wealth placed in my path” informs us that Victor Frankenstein lives a luxurious and materially rich life. However, he chose a complicated and challenging path to win fame, recognition, and respect.

There are five stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: the basic physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, self-esteem, and the final stage of self-actualization. Victor Frankenstein has reached the final stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Writer Saul McLeod says, “Self-actualization needs are the highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy and refer to the realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences.” Frankenstein was born into a relatively wealthy family; material fulfillment drove him to a higher pursuit of life. Maslow suggested that “self-actualization needs” are fueled by the desire to accomplish everything anyone possibly can. Frankenstein yearns to be the best version of himself, earning worldwide recognition and leaving his mark on science. Creating a new physical life could bring Frankenstein glory in science globally, which fulfills his deepest desires.

However, the most critical reason Frankenstein creates the monster is his untamed arrogance. When his mother dies, Frankenstein becomes consumed with challenging death, which seems inevitable; he plans to bring the dead back to life. He sees himself as an omniscient human. He believes he is someone who can use his knowledge and skills to overcome death and the limitations of mortality. His ignorance and arrogance end up destroying him. Shelley writes,

For when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion, which afterward ruled my destiny, I find it arises, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys (Mary Shelley 20).

This could be interpreted as Frankenstein’s remorse over creating the monster. Frankenstein reflects on his attempt to create life and his regret after seeing the consequences of his actions. Mary Shelley used the metaphor of the mountains and river to describe Victor’s ambition to create life. His ambition starts small, like a stream, but it grows larger as he focuses more on the creation of newfound life. His ambition becomes an unstoppable force, and eventually, Frankenstein cannot control his overwhelming passion. The statement “sweeping away all my hopes and joys” refers to his downfall. He is consumed by his creation, losing everything he owned. He loses control of his ambition, bringing him to destruction and despair. Renowned French author Luc de Clapiers once said, “The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men is to endow them with small talents and great ambition.” Talentless people with strong desires are often frustrated, and they may end up engaging in harmful behavior toward others. In the book Frankenstein, Victor has both talents and ambitions in science, but his overwhelming desire to create life destroys him and harms people close to him. Victor thought he was the one who could challenge science and bring his mother back to life. Despite his good intentions, his creation ultimately proves to be disastrous. The monster is chaotic and grotesque. He realizes too late that his creation has terrible powers and forces he cannot control.

In conclusion, the reasons Frankenstein creates the monster are complicated yet related: a combination of ambition, the inner desire for glory and recognition, and arrogance. Victor’s creation fails, instead leading to a terrible power he cannot control and great tragedy. Through Victor’s catastrophic journey, Shelley teaches her readers about the fragile balance between human aspiration and the potential dangers of discovering the unknown.

Works Cited

By, et al. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory.” Simply Psychology, 24 Nov. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html.

Luc De Clapiers - the Greatest Evil Which Fortune Can... - Brainyquote, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/luc_de_clapiers_166602.  Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, et al. Frankenstein. Pearson Education, 2019.