Victor Frankenstein’s ambition to transcend the boundaries of mortality results in the creation of a sentient, grotesque being that ultimately destroys his life. Driven by a desire to unlock the secrets of nature, the protagonist abandons his creation, leaving the creature to navigate a world that views him with immediate hostility. The narrative framework utilizes an epistolary structure, incorporating letters and nested first-person accounts to detail the psychological deterioration of the creator and the existential suffering of the abandoned entity. The story operates within the logical constraints of early nineteenth-century scientific inquiry, where the pursuit of forbidden knowledge leads to inevitable moral and physical ruin.

Readers frequently highlight the philosophical depth of the text, noting that it functions as more than a simple horror story. Discussion often centers on the moral culpability of Victor Frankenstein and the tragic nature of the creature’s development from innocence to malice. Critics often point to the atmospheric prose and the effective use of the sublime to mirror the internal states of the characters. The work remains a focal point for debates regarding the ethics of technology and the consequences of unchecked ambition in scientific fields.