Monstrosity In Frankenstein

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L. Andrew Cooper’s excerpt from his book Gothic Realities: The Impact of Horror Fiction on Modern Cultures, discusses the relationship between monstrocity and homosexualy. Cooper argues that monstrosity is a way to police homosexuality which encompasses any form of non-normative behavior. However in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, there are themes that contradict Cooper's argument. Victor’s need to create and his creations desire for a mate show how Monstrosity does not necessarily equal homosexuality or non-normative behavior.
Victor is engaged to Elizabeth but he is reluctant to marry her and chooses instead to study abroad and embark on a journey to cross the boundaries between life and death. By creating the creature, he is essentially …show more content…
The creature is known as a monster by those who he has encountered. However , like Frankenstein, he may be a monster but he exhibits a great deal less non-normative behavior and does not show homosexuality at all. The creature seeks out Victor many times, not for revenge or with any mal intent but rather to request a female companion so that he is not so alone anymore. His desire for a companion is far from non-normative seeing as many different creatures in nature naturally crave companionship who are similar to them and shares many similar experiences with.While he may be a monster he is definitely not an example of Cooper’s argument. The idea that monstrosity equals homosexuality, which encompasses non-normative behaviors and sodomy, is not completely evident with the creature. The creature, has killed but his first intentions in meeting people was never to wreak havoc or murder innocents. Rather he prefers a life where he can be accepted, have friends and be at peace. Regardless of his murder, being a monster did not make him more inclined to sodomy. Rather the perception and treatment by others inclined him to become a sodomite. For example while observing the people at the cottage, he shows great capacity for kindness and knowledge and actually has an acute distaste for non-normative behaviors. On that note, the creature argues that he was not born evil and thus a monster by birth. Instead he claims that he was
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