I’m In The Middle Of Re-reading Frankenstein, And Something I Never Quite Realized Before – Even

I’m in the middle of re-reading Frankenstein, and something I never quite realized before – even though I’ve seen it pointed out by others – is just how ineffectual Frankenstein is in dealing with anything.  He whines, and he moans, and laments his life, but he never does anything about it.

When he first brings his creation to life and flees in terror, he takes absolutely no action afterwards.  He doesn’t arm himself and resolve to return and kill the perceived monster he has birthed, he just wanders the streets until he goes home and hopes that it has gone away.  When he gets back and sees that it is gone from his apartment he doesn’t try to marshal a pursuit, he’s just happy that it’s gone and that’s it.  He gives absolutely no thought to what it may be doing out in the world, since it’s not his problem anymore.

When he learns that his brother has been murdered and their maid has been framed, he becomes convinced that the creature is responsible but he doesn’t tell anybody.  He doesn’t even make up a mundane story that bypasses bringing a creature to life, like saying that he made a personal enemy who is targeting his family and that is why Justine is being framed.  He just says that he believes her innocent but takes no action, and expects that to get her acquitted.  He even bemoans that he has it worse than Justine since even though she is executed his guilt is so hard to bear.

After Justine’s death he says he is considering suicide, but he resists because if he did so then there would be nobody to protect his family.  Except, again, he isn’t doing any protecting.  He still hasn’t told anybody the truth, nor has he made up that plausible mundane explanation to get them on their guard.  He doesn’t mount a watch at night or go about armed.  He takes no action.

He is so self-centered that all he talks about is how hard everybody else’s pain is on him, and so spoiled that he does absolutely nothing to resolve any situation.  He just seems to expect it to be worked out because he wants it so.

What a tool.