Remorse in Frankenstein

Throughout the first third of Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein continuously reminds his listener of all he suffered because of his monster, but his remorse often appears insincere. When Frankenstein discusses the aftermath of the monster’s creation, he often describes his feelings of suffering, but he does so in a way that hints of his self-centeredness. In the weeks after creating the monster, Frankenstein says “… I was lifeless and did not recover my senses for a long, long time… This was the commencement of a nervous fever which confined me for several months…” (page 46).  This sickness occurred before the monster killed William and is therefore more likely a manifestation of Frankenstein’s fear that someone would find out about his horrible failure than the fear that his monster would do any harm, which means that his sickness is ultimately due to egotistical feelings than remorse for the irreparable damage he may have done to society.  This egocentric mindset is also seen when recounting a childhood conversation with his father, Frankenstein says, “It is even possible that the train of ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin” (page 25).  Once again, Frankenstein appears more concerned about himself than about all the pain he has caused others.  On the surface, Frankenstein’s remorse seems sincere and he appears to actually feel guilt for his monster’s actions, but his “remorse” is actually for the damage he has caused himself and not for the damage his creation has done.