My initial impression of the book was quite positive. At first the writing style threw me off, but I am not one to pass judgement just based on the method and style.
It was evident that Victor had many issues. I would argue his biggest problem is his inability to recognize moral responsibility and through this, figure out his priorities in life. As a result he becomes a selfish man so entrapped in his own bubble that he fails to see the world around him. Throughout the story he steadily degenerates into a monster himself, unable to cope with the life he has created for himself. This selfishness can be seen to a great degree when he is working and when the monster warned him of his wedding night. In his work be becomes self-absorbed and even falls ill only to find comfort not his own accord, but through the help of other people such as his father. He is like a child with too much freedom and the mad pursuit for more knowledge through risks he sees as mere annoyances. He is a frail and weak man who should have been ready to father his creation and care for the people closest to him.
This idealist view he has of himself continues even later into the story when the monster warns him to be wary on his wedding night. Instead of protecting his newlywed wife, he leaves her alone as he tries to be wary of the monster in fear he will be killed. I find this to be a ridiculous notion on his part. Any other man with any sense, who has just been married, would think to protect his wife. I cannot see what Victor had going through his mind here. If the monster is out to prove and point and exact revenge, why would he kill the man he is trying to prove a point to? When Victor is in his lab, he is book smart but outside of this world, he becomes a small child.
Diverging slightly; this leads into Mary's life as well. With the kind of life she led, it is evident that she is trying to communicate that men cannot bring life into this world and care for it as well as a woman could. Although her many attempts to do this herself has not yielded favorable results.
