Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a profound exploration of humanity's often-fraught relationship with control. From the initial, hubristic ambition of Victor Frankenstein to the Creature's desperate, violent quest for autonomy, the novel depicts how the pursuit and denial of control lead to inevitable tragedy. Victor's desire to command life itself, and his subsequent inability to control the consequences of his creation, sets in motion a chain of events that devastates his life and the lives of those around him. Equally, the Creature's struggle for agency, denied by a society and creator that refuse him basic recognition and rights, ultimately fuels his destructive rage. The novel, therefore, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the moral imperative to acknowledge and respect the agency of others.
Victor Frankenstein's ambition represents a supreme, and ultimately fatal, attempt to exert control over nature and the very essence of life. Driven by a desire to penetrate the "secrets of heaven and earth," he dedicates himself to the "great work" of animating inanimate matter. This is not merely scientific curiosity; it is a deep-seated yearning to transcend mortal limitations and to hold dominion over the fundamental forces of existence. His success, however, is immediately followed by a profound failure of control. Horrified by the grotesque reality of his creation, Victor abandons it, abdicating any responsibility for its upbringing or well-being. This act of rejection is the first critical loss of control, not over the Creature's existence, but over the ethical and emotional ramifications of Victor's own actions. His subsequent attempts to regain control are reactive and ultimately futile, characterized by fear, guilt, and a desperate desire to erase the evidence of his transgression. He seeks to control the narrative, to hide his secret, and later, to destroy the Creature, but each action only entrenches him deeper in a cycle of destruction he initiated. The loss of his loved ones – William, Justine, Clerval, and Elizabeth – can all be traced back to Victor's initial failure to manage his ambition and its consequences, demonstrating how a loss of control over one's actions inevitably leads to a loss of control over one's life and happiness.
The Creature, conversely, begins his existence in a state of absolute powerlessness, a being devoid of agency, identity, or even a name. His initial experiences are defined by his creator's absolute rejection and the terror he inspires in all humans he encounters. This constant denial of recognition and basic social interaction fuels his growing resentment and his desperate need for control, not over others initially, but over his own destiny. His plea to Victor for a female companion is a direct demand for agency and a measure of control over his solitary existence. He wishes to create a world where he is not an outcast, where he can have companionship and a semblance of control over his emotional life. When Victor, fearing the propagation of his species and exercising his own twisted form of control, destroys the female creature, he shatters the Creature's last hope for self-determination. This act of ultimate betrayal solidifies the Creature's descent into vengeful rage. His subsequent actions, while horrific, are portrayed as direct consequences of this denial of control. His destruction of Victor's life, family, and happiness is a violent assertion of power in response to a lifetime of powerlessness. He seeks to inflict upon Victor the same profound sense of loss and abandonment that he himself has endured, demonstrating how the denial of control can breed a destructive desire for it in those who are systematically disempowered.
The theme of control extends beyond individual actions to societal structures and responsibilities. Victor's scientific pursuits, unchecked by ethical considerations or societal oversight, highlight the dangers of knowledge without wisdom or accountability. His ambition is a private endeavor, yet its consequences ripple outward, affecting his family, his friends, and ultimately, the fabric of society. The Creature's rejection by humanity – by the villagers, the De Lacey family, and even by Victor’s own father – illustrates a societal failure to control prejudice and fear. Instead of extending compassion or seeking understanding, society reacts with instinctive revulsion, thereby ceding control of the Creature’s path to his burgeoning rage. The novel suggests that true control lies not in domination or absolute power, but in responsible stewardship and a willingness to acknowledge the interconnectedness of lives. Victor's inability to control his ambition, his fear, and his creation results in a catastrophic loss of control over his entire existence. Similarly, society's failure to control its fear and prejudice relinquishes its own potential for a more humane outcome.
Ultimately, Frankenstein argues that the pursuit of absolute control, whether over nature, life, or the destinies of others, is a dangerous illusion. Victor's ambition to play God leads to his destruction, and the Creature's desperate fight for agency, born from a complete lack of it, results in widespread devastation. The novel does not offer simple solutions but underscores the complexity of human agency and the moral weight of our actions. It suggests that true power lies not in command, but in responsibility, empathy, and the recognition of shared humanity, even with the most monstrous of creations. The tragic arc of both Victor and his Creature is a stark reminder of the profound and often devastating consequences that arise when control is either seized too aggressively or denied entirely.