god complex

The so called ‘God Complex’ is the idea that an individual feels of higher status than others. Living by the means of a God Complex drives a person to believe they have more powerful abilities than those surrounding them and live as if they are creators or controllers of something significant, hence why it is named the ‘God Complex’. Those who present a god complex in their behaviour often come across narcissistic and arrogant as they hold stubborn opinions on their own importance in the world. Dr Victor Frankenstein represents the idea of a God Complex through his believes that he can create a being with his own knowledge and power. He had initially claimed that his creation was to be a service to human kind, however, as the story goes on it becomes clear his motives for the creation of his “human” are selfish and ego- driven. “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.” This quotation gives insight into Dr Victor Frankenstein’s motivation towards his doings. He felt empowered by the fact that his own creation was defying the laws of death, he had achieved the impossible and therefore felt as though he was greater than the rest. Frankenstein displays his god complex in the quote “many happy natures would owe their being to me”, by saying this he is prooving that he is driven by the idea that he would be responsible for the life of his loyal being.

Flaw in moral compass

To have a flaw in one’s moral compass means to have a twisted perception of the distinction between right and wrong. An individuals morals guide their intentions and decisions in life, therefore, the corruption of one’s morality leads to a misconception of wether their actions are socially acceptable or not. The creation of Dr Victor Frankenstein’s creature is an example of how Dr Frankenstein had a flaw in his moral compass, as he had clearly misinterpreted the ethical logic behind his intentions. As he followed through with his decision to create human life, he remained unaware of the principles of life and science and was only driven by his own selfish intent. “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy, and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm. ” This quote from chapter 4 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly proves the mindset of which victor Frankenstein possessed as he buried through the grave yard in sort of corps parts to build his creation, disregarding the worthy respect of the dead.

Moment of recognition/revelation

A moment of revelation for Dr Victor Frankenstein is represented in chapter 5 of the book, when Frankenstein successfully brings his creation to life. He had spent many hours, through day and night gathering dead corpses and studying the anatomy of the human body and its functions, preparing his creation that would be his to claim and rule, although nothing had prepared him for what it truely meant to create a life. when his creature sprung to life on that stormy night, Dr Frankenstein came to the realisation that what he had done was beyond his own capability and he became of terrified of his own creation. He suddenly feared for his and the lives of his family as he realised he could not take control of this strong, 8 ft tall, unpredictable creature which he had brought into the world under his own ignorant circumstances.

Distressing past event

A distressing past even in the life of Dr Victor Frankenstein would be the death of his mother Caroline, as explained in chapter one of the book when the narrator (whom later is revealed to be Frankenstein himself) is describing Victor’s childhood. His mother