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Susan Xu

Dr. Joel Brown

English 3001

28 October 2019

Character Analysis in Frankenstein Applying Freud’s theory of Personality

In the book Frankenstein, the author Mary Shelly depicted a series of the plot to

demonstrate the conflict between Frankenstein and the monster he created. The relationship

between these two characters has been interpreted as different symbolic terms: god and creature,

father and son, even humankind and another species. However, according to Freud’s theory of

Personality, the monster can be regarded as the projection of Frankenstein’s inner self, in other

words, id. Besides, Frankenstein’s father plays the role of the superego in the book Frankenstein,

and such an effect maintains after he died. Arguments are stated as follows.

First of all, Frankenstein’s father is a symbol of ethic in Frankenstein’s heart. This impact

increases gradually as he grows up. The narration of Frankenstein’s life begins with his father’s

life. He said, “He came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed herself to his

care.” (Mary Shelly, 25) In Freud’s essay, the Ego and the Id, Freud describes the impact of the

superego as “residue of the earliest object-choices of the id” (Freud, 27) Relatively, the personal

lives of Frankenstein and his father are similar----their lovers are both rescued or relayed on

them. However, Freud also said that “Its relation to the ego is not exhausted by the precept: ‘You

ought to be like this (like your father).’ It also comprises the prohibition: ‘You may not be like

this (like your father)—that is, you may not do all that he does; some things are his prerogative.”

In Frankenstein’s childhood, his passion for learning is repressed by his father. He was

interested in Agrippa, and when Victor talked this to his father, his father uses “sad trash” to
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describe his work. Unfortunately, this evokes Frankenstein to learn much more about this natural

philosopher. Victor himself reflected on this that “If, instead of this remark, my father had taken

the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded ……It is

even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to

my ruin.” (Mary Shelly, 35) After creating the monster, Frankenstein faces to his id, and he is

freaked out, run back to home. At this moment, his id is so secure that he cannot control. As a

result, he tries to find his place of shelter in which his superego protects his ego. When

Frankenstein’s father died, Victor stated that “I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and

darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me.” (Mary Shelly, 246) The thing I have to

point out is that at the same time, Frankenstein gained freedom---- the prison acquits him. This

acquittal may be a hint that Frankenstein’s superego is combining to his ego that he is going to

build his true self.

On the other hand, Frankenstein’s monster is the symbol of Frankenstein’s id, that is, his

inner desire. It is clear that in Victor’s childhood, he is occupied by learning natural philosophy.

He is alone because his superego forbids him to do so, and his friends cannot understand his

passion. When he attended university, he mostly cut off all the relationships. The contrast

between being isolated from humans and learning how to make a living thing shows that Victor

wants somebody to understand him. The method he used----using dead body part----also shows

an extraordinary apathy towards humanity. The body parts Frankenstein picked is fit into his

perspective of perfection. This creature represents Frankenstein’s desire to beyond life and death.

“Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first breakthrough, and pour a

torrent of light into our dark world.” (Mary Shelly, 54) As the process of creating a monster

continues, his desire is enlarged. Finally, when he conducted all the processes, he is forced to
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face his id. He stated that “I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now

that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my

heart.” (Mary Shelly, 59) All the parts of the monster are from humans, but the creature himself

is not like a human. The id is like a dark side of people’s heart, and Victor is not willing to admit

it. He and his creature both want love and to be accepted, but the difference occurs that there is

no limitation set for the monster: the monster once claimed that “Beware; for I am fearless, and

therefore powerful.” (Mary Shelly, 105) The monster did not create life to study life, and he

observed life to studying life. A piece of direct evidence is shown in the narration of the monster.

He said that “but I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse which I detested yet could not

disobey.” (Marry Shelly, 273)

However, the monster is not fully occupied by passion and desire. Although he was

controlled by disobeying desire when he finishes the crimes, he felt pity right after. Also, he said

that he was tortured and depressed in his heart, especially when he knows the death of

Frankenstein. He felt guilty about all the bad things he did and regard Frankenstein as his victim.

A reasonable explanation may be that the monster is “humanized” during his growth. He is born

as a collection of desires, but when he was observing the family, he learned from people about

what is the right thing to do.

In conclusion, in the book Frankenstein, Frankenstein represents the ego, the monster

represents id, and Frankenstein represents the superego. When we observe things, we always see

ourselves.
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Bibliography

1. “Frankenstein.” Planet EBook, https://www.planetebook.com/frankenstein/.

2. Freud, Sigmund. “The Ego and the Id (1923). Editors Introduction. (1961).”

PsycEXTRA Dataset, 1971, doi:10.1037/e417472005-460.