Final answer:
Shelley's Frankenstein delves into the detrimental effects of societal prejudice and environmental hostility on the monster, emphasizing themes of environmental influence and racial prejudice. The novel critiques human arrogance and anthropocentrism, as Victor's abandonment of his creation reflects fears of the non-conforming and challenges societal value systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the treatment of Frankenstein's monster highlights themes of environmental influence and racial prejudice. The creature, upon animation, is initially benevolent, but the harsh rejection and violence he encounters from humans due to his 'monstrous' appearance leads him to become vengeful. This shift underscores the toxic effects of societal prejudice and environmental hostility on beings perceived as 'other.'
Victor Frankenstein's ambition reflects the era's anthropocentric mindset, placing humans and their desires above all other considerations. His immediate revulsion and abandonment of the creature after bestowing it life encapsulates a fear and dismissal of the non-human or non-conforming. Moreover, the monster's own education, derived from observing humans and reading works such as Milton's Paradise Lost, allows him to articulate his suffering and challenge the inherent assumptions of his inferiority, underlying the novel's critique of human arrogance.
Thus, Shelley's work interrogates the consequences of rampant human ambition and the societal constructs that deem certain lives less valuable than others. The narrative prompts readers to consider the destructive potential of dehumanization and the ethical implications of scientific pursuits unconstrained by empathy and social responsibility.