Frankenstein- Slave and Master

Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley

chaps 13-24

The motif of slavery is evident throughout the novel.  Victor is the monster's creator, but the second that the monster was given life, Victor lost his control over it.  The monster is super human and eventually tracks down Victor and exhibits control over him.  The monster is violent and murderous and threatens Victor if he does not make the creature a companion.  If Victor fails, the creature says to Victor, "I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth" (Shelley, 105).  Victor slaves away at this task because he is afraid of the repercussions of his failure.  Although Victor created the monster, he has no control over it whatsoever.  Every time Victor tries to kill the creature, the creature easily eludes him.  Victor hates himself for obeying the creature, and eventually this turns into passionate rage as Victor breaks the bonds and tears apart the beginnings of a female creature.  Victor refuses to be a slave to the creature if it means setting another horrible monster loose on the world.
Even the creature feels like a slave, but not to Victor.  "I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey" (Shelley, 164).
Earlier in the novel, Victor was a slave to his work, and didn't stop until he achieved his goal- creating life.  As time has passed, he has learned not to be controlled by selfish motives or threats.  This is a lesson he hopes to pass on to Walton, do not be a slave, always maintain control.