Trace the similarities between Victor and the Creature. Consider their respective relationships with nature, desires for family, and any other important parallels you find. Do Victor and the Creature become more similar as the novel goes on? How does their relationship with each other develop?

Victor Frankenstein and The Creature share many similarities

Explanation:

There are many parallels between Victor and his creation. They are linked in a complex, multidimensional relationship. They are both submissive to each other, as the Monster depends on Victor to create another like him; and Victor is subservient to the Monster as it can physically dominate him and cause harm to him and his close ones They both feel an indescribable hatred for each other. Victor reflects many things of his own life in the Creature, denying to it what he denied for himself, a family life and a wife. Victor's relationship with Elizabeth is that of a brother and sister, and can be seen as almost incestuous, as they were brought up together, so he never really experienced courtship or love, and is therefore distant to the subject. Victor's anger to the monster could be seen as an anger with himself, and a frustration about his own life. When Victor's relationship comes to nothing, this is mirrored in the Creature's relationships. Victor denies the monster of social acceptance, which is parallel to Victor removing himself from the world for months to submerge himself in his work, and not having any type of emotional contact with family or friends, which ironically results in strengthening the bond between Victor and the Creature, as their relationship is full of emotion, even if the emotion is that they despise each other. Victor's feelings towards the creature change greatly, starting with feelings of passion and care, choosing the most beautiful parts for the body and dreaming of creating something beautiful, however, once the creature was assembled his emotions were of horror and disgust. We can see a similar transition in the Creature, as it only wants to be loved, and at first wants to be accepted by Victor, but receives nothing but hate and disgust, and later in the book, longs for a fellow creature to spend his life with; however this leads him to acts of murder and destruction.

We can also see that Frankenstein's own physical decline mirrors the feeling he has for his creation. He is in decline while his monster become more "human" like, becoming more expressive and showing emotions.