Frankenstein and God

Although I am sure I am not the first person to come to this conclusion, I find too many themes in Frankenstein that parallel the concept of Christianity to not at least talk about it on this blog. First, the underlying conflict throughout this book is simple: man knows nothing and is constantly trying to know everything, but will never successfully do so. For Walton and Frankenstein, there is a void that humanity cannot fill. They both look to pursue knowledge and adventure in their own ways. For Walton, that involves leading a dangerous journey through the unexplored depths of the north, and for Frankenstein it involves battling science for what is and is not possible. Frankenstein wants to know it all; wants to have the powers of God. For in this reading, I understand that Frankenstein believes a God exists. And what, for him, is God's greatest power? That of creation. It was God's vision, imagination, and creativity which gave form to the world we live in. As humans, we have very little creative power. Although we can be creative in an artistic way, and can procreate our species, our imagination cannot simply make something in the mind appear in reality. Victor sets out to prove this wrong. He has an idea in his mind, and makes that thing tangible in reality, thus playing the role of God.
Frankenstein is the creator and master of his wretch. From the inner thoughts of the monster, we see that he is troubled to live in the world of humans. Is this not completely parallel with God's creation of mankind? We have moments of compassion and love, like the wretch feels for the hovel inhabitants, but we also feel neglected and at times angry, often leading to acts of violence. How prominent is war throughout our history? We still use technology today to find better ways of murdering one another. Frankenstein gives into his angry emotions and takes the lives of Justine, William, Clerval, and Elizabeth, but in the end repents to Walton and says he feels complete shame for what he has done.
In one final parallel to the bible, Frankenstein's (in this paragraph, Frankenstein refers to the wretch) life, at points, alludes towards the life of Jesus. First, Jesus was born of a miracle, and without a biological father. Frankenstein is truly "born" without a mother or father, to the miracle created by Victor, who is reluctant to tell his secret. Jesus was human, but also something else... something beyond humanity. Frankenstein shares the same characteristics: he is human in that he speaks the same language as us, and his mind operates and thinks cognitively like a human, but he is inhuman in his incredible and unnatural form, and his physical capabilities. Both Frankenstein and Jesus are neglected in society, and at times put to shame. Frankenstein has moments of passionate rage, similar to when Jesus is enraged and throws tables outside the temple. Frankenstein's rage is obviously much more uncontrollable, for Jesus never did anything to hurt anyone. In the end, both Frankenstein and Jesus' lives on earth end because the human society simply cannot accept their presence. In a sense, Victor created Frankenstein to live in a world where he was ultimately unwelcome, just as God created Jesus to live in a world that ultimately was not ready to accept Him either, making the two of them outcasts in the same world.
"(Adam) had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator... Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me (163)." Man is flawed, and is not perfect, and that is why we were not given the ability to create life from our imagination.