A Play on Morality

by Jovialis Jill N. Yeung (2013-72341)

In the movie, the monster was a violent being, with the emotional maturity and intelligence of a 10 year old, unlike in the book where it was learned.

The monster was made dumb probably to emphasize the cruelty of people towards things they cannot understand (since the monster couldn't communicate properly his intentions towards the villagers were lost and so was rejected because of his appearance). The pain drove him to seek happiness from a female companion and so blackmails Frankenstein into making him a bride. Frankenstein makes one but when the bride rejects it too, the monster urges Frankenstein and his wife to escape telling them "You live!", while self-destructing the lab (trapping him, the female monster, and Pretorious) and telling them "We belong dead". Frankenstein was doing everything for his wife's safety while neglecting to consider the consequences of his actions, the monster knows this so it frees him, not blaming him for what happened since the monster also knows that it's not something that's supposed to exist in the world.

On the other hand, the monster in the book sought out a female partner since as he tells Frankenstein, "I deserve happiness just as much as any man". Frankenstein reluctantly agrees, it is his responsibility since he was the one who created the monter. But right before he brings the bride to life he is struck with horror at the thought that the world might be overrun by monsters if he were to allow his creation to breed and so destroys the bride. The monster is furious and for revenge kills Frankenstein's wife. Frankenstein chases the monster to Antarctica but doesn't kill it, and dies on board a ship. The monster grieves over Frankenstein's death, saying that now it's even more alone in the world than ever before and so kills itself too, by drifting off into the ocean, never to be seen again.

In both the book and movie, the creation of life using Science is considered a taboo, it's unnatural and immoral. The characters struggle over their priorities, between their own personal happiness and society. In the end though, sacrifices were made for the greater good.