Frankenstein's Mislabeled Fears

Upon making a desperate claim of sanity to his father, Frankenstein reveals perhaps his most crushing inner doubts. He claims to fear nothing more than being deemed insane, which is an interesting fear in itself. When and how does fear of insanity arise? Should Victor have spawned these fearful feelings before trying to give life to set of sewn appendages? Since this emotion never surfaced in his creation process, it is interesting to again think of the traits his father raised in him. A lack of fear as a child grew to a void of understanding as to why dangerous things are feared. In his relentless pursuit to prove his intellectual competence, he neglects his personal relationships and never fears the consequences of his obsessions. Ironically, the creature exhibits a greater sense of understanding as to the value of relationships, but is forced to show this understanding through violence. The only desire the monster exhibits is his quest for companionship, and upon Frankenstein's denial of his potential mate, he ensures a mirrored emotional trauma as his revenge. Even in a state of revenge, the monster's revenge on Frankenstein demonstrates a degree of sanity in valuing personal relationships above all else.

Ultimately, Victor's fear of madness could be renamed a fear of ineptitude. His fear of insanity peaks at the thought of unleashing another monster, but in the end he values the logic of this fear over the opportunity to strip the monster of his inherent rage and loneliness. While there could be no guarantee that a female monster would create a happy couple, the mere goal of companionship to achieve a state of content in life is a level of humanist sanity Victor can never conjure.