Final answer:
Mary Shelley detailed the monster's animation in Frankenstein to illustrate the central conflict, underscore the consequences of unbridled ambition, and emphasize the novel's thematic focus on the impact of education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author's purpose of detailing the coming to life of the monster in Frankenstein serves multiple purposes. Primarily, it highlights the central conflict in the plot, illustrating Victor's abrupt transition from obsessive ambition to repulsion and fear. This moment emphasizes the consequences of reckless pursuit of knowledge and foreshadows the tragic events that follow.
Moreover, this event invites readers to question not only the nature of the creature and the ethics of Victor’s actions but also Victor’s own flawed character. Mary Shelley uses the plot to explore deeper themes such as the dangers of unchecked ambition, paralleling classical stories like that of Icarus, who also suffered for his ambitions.
Additionally, the detailed account of the monster's animation underscores the novel's thematic interest in education, as it exemplifies Victor's learning and its outcomes, further refined as the impact of education in different environments on his character arc.