Monstrous Eve in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein*, the character of Frankenstein’s monster is a pivotal figure whose complexity challenges simplistic notions of monstrosity. The narrative, rich with Biblical allegories and classical mythologies, often draws parallels between the monster and Eve from the Book of Genesis. This comparison provides a framework for exploring themes of creation, rejection, and the quest for identity and companionship. Here, the figure of the monster is recast as a “Monstrous Eve,” a being who, much like the Biblical Eve, confronts profound existential dilemmas and the consequences of creation.

From his very inception, Frankenstein’s monster embodies isolation and otherness. Created in a makeshift womb from scavenged body parts, the monster is Victor Frankenstein’s modern Adam, crafted not from dust but from the remnants of the dead. However, the parallels with Eve become particularly poignant as the monster begins to grapple with his consciousness and cursed existence. The monster, like Eve, is thrust into a world of moral complexities and is punished for seeking knowledge—specifically, the knowledge of his own origins and the nature of his existence. His eventual demand for a companion mirrors Eve’s role as a companion to Adam, highlighting his fundamental need for belonging and sociality which, tragically, is never fulfilled.

Shelley further complicates this parallel by introducing the idea of creating a female companion for the monster. Here, the monster explicitly references the Genesis narrative, suggesting that he deserves an Eve to mitigate his loneliness. The prospect of creating a female creature introduces fears of a new generation of monsters that could potentially doom humanity. This fear reflects societal anxieties about unchecked scientific progress and the unnatural creation of life, similar to how Eve’s actions in Eden lead to the fall of man. However, unlike in the Bible where Eve and Adam continue to live, albeit in suffering, Victor destroys the female creature before she is animated, leaving the monster in perpetual isolation and agony.

The monster’s self-awareness and eloquence further elevate his narrative from a mere creature of horror to a tragic figure ensnared in existential quandaries. He questions the justice of his suffering, challenges his creator’s authority, and ultimately seeks vengeance, much like Eve might have grappled with her own existence and punishment. His narrative is one of self-education through literature, learning to articulate his anguish and to argue his case before his creator, which only adds depth to his character as a “Monstrous Eve.”

Moreover, the monster’s journey also mirrors the archetypal quest for identity and understanding within a hostile world. He encounters constant rejection and violence, which shape his character and destiny. This trajectory reflects the Biblical narrative of exile and wandering, underscoring themes of alienation and the search for justice or redemption that are never quite reached.

In conclusion, the monster in *Frankenstein* can be seen as a “Monstrous Eve,” a figure who, like Eve, is created in innocence but becomes encumbered by knowledge and its consequences. Shelley uses this allusion to explore not only the limits of scientific endeavor but also the profound loneliness that can arise from being an outcast and misunderstood. The monster’s tragic narrative invites readers to reconsider the boundaries of empathy and the ethical implications of creation, making him a central figure in the moral landscape of the novel. Through the lens of this “Monstrous Eve,” Shelley critiques the Enlightenment’s drive towards scientific progress by highlighting the emotional and existential costs of such pursuits.

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