Page |1

Not Without a Smile

The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley reveals the irony in human life through traces
of the agonizing life of a miserable scientist, Victor Frankenstein. Ever since Victor was a little
boy, he had always been interested in the topic of natural science. Through innovation and
guidance, as well as great effort, Victor made the extraordinary discovery of the elixir of life
where he brought life upon an inanimate being. Such discovery, however, only resulted in
everlasting remorse and vengeance that followed Victor to his grave. Victors smile left on his
motionless body answered many questions proposed throughout the story, yet more questions
were left unanswered through the medium of irony. The smile that irradiates from Victors cold
body shows a sense of satisfaction, but also a sense of regret as he was not able to speak his last
words, which emits a sense of irony. The satisfaction yet remorseful smile left on the lips of
Victor shadows the ironic behavior throughout the story. It is through these ironies that the story
uncovers the ironic events that challenge us every day.
The last emotion left on the face of Victor Frankenstein displayed the satisfaction that
Victor had longed for. Since the murder of his loved ones by the monster, Victor had only been
feeling miserable, guilty and above all, ferocious. After learning that the monster was the
murderer of his youngest brother William, Victor narrated that, no one can conceive the anguish
I suffered during the remainder of the night (99). As Victor entered the room where Henrys
body lay still, Victor recalled that moment with [shudder] and agony along with anguish and
recognition (183). The murder of Victors wife, Elizabeth, once again left Victor in an agony of
despair (198). All of this anger and misery haunted Victors emotion evermore, and ultimately
drove him to seek vengeance on the criminal behind these murders, devoting the remainder of his

Page |2
life to hunting down the monster that he created: and I devote myself, either in my life or death,
to his destruction (202). As Victor departs from this world, the monster was yet still alive, but
these emotions that haunted Victor were no more. He had lived a miserable but undeniably
exhausting life: pursuing his dream while having it drive him to desolation in the endless chase
of his own creation. Even in death, Victor attempted to speak words which he had no strength
for; a long overdue rest was in place for Victor Frankenstein, and this realization made him felt
satisfied enough to finally show a sign of happiness after years and years of despair. After Victor
had shared this terrible and shameful secret with Robert Walton, there was nothing holding
Victor back to depart this world of eternal suffering. Additionally, When Victor reminisces about
his past, he announces that no youth could have passed more happily than [his] (67), and that
his dreams were undisturbed by reality (69). The memories of these times spent with his loved
ones and the freedom he had made him feel calm and at ease as opposed to when he spoke of
other events in his life. This calm and satisfaction surfaced again upon his death. Victor felt more
satisfied in departing from his eternal hatred and be finally free to join the ones he cared for, as
he was fighting the battle forever alone by himself while all his loved ones are not of this world.
The satisfaction shown on Victors rested face also reeks of sorrow and regret. The smile
that irradiated is not only to show his content and satisfaction, but also bitter regret of what he
had and couldnt accomplish. Upon the birth of his creation, Victor immediately felt breathless
horror and disgust fill[ing] [his] heart (84). The life of Victors own creation instantly brought
Victor to regret what he had done. This sense of regret is not only shown to be evident
afterwards, but even before the creation of the creature as Victor narrated his story to Walton.
When first introducing the study that resulted in creation of the monster, Victor indicated

Page |3
[n]atrual philosophy[science] is the genius that has regulated my fate (68), and hinted at
blaming his father for unintentional negative reinforcement:
If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me under such
circumstances, I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside, and, with my imagination
warmed as it was, should probably have applied myself to the more rational theory of
chemistry which has resulted from modern discoveries. (68)
Although Victor showed some degree of respect for his father by using probably more than
once, it is evident he is absolutely certain things will turn out otherwise. When Victor finished
his inspiring lecture with M. Krempe, he noted that it was a memorable day that decided [his]
future destiny (77). These are key events that paved the way to the road that led to his ultimate
regret. He spoke of fate and destiny, but it sounds more like doom and destruction. The fact
he chose the words fate and destiny showed that he had true love for natural science and did
not want to blame it for the mishap, instead saying all of this is fate[d] and destin[ed]. Yet it
is clear that much like his description of the negative reinforcement from his father, he regrets
the choice of natural science and wishes these seeds would have never been planted. At Victors
final moments, even though he had absolutely no stamina left, he attempted again to speak, but
was unable (216). Soon after, his life was terminated with a satisfactory smile that forever
lasted. He was indeed content with the fact that it is over for him, but he was also trying to hide
his regret with it, much like his use of words such as fate and destiny. The angel of death
came to take Victor away as his so called destiny had in plan for him, but even knowing so,
Victor still tried to deliver as much words as he can to Walton.

Page |4
The smile that had shown both satisfaction and bitter regret at the same time presents one
of the reoccurring themes of the novel: irony. The fragments of irony unravel throughout the
story and were most evident with Victors dying smile. Victor had dedicated rest of his life to
hunt down the murderer of his loved ones, yet when he could not fulfill that duty, he left his
unfulfilled commitment with a smile. When Victor announced that his dreams were to banish
disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death (69), the
event that followed was the violent death of the tree during the thunderstorm, shattered in a
singular manner (70), and soon after that, the death of his mother. These lighting that blasted the
tree to ashes is a symbol of enlightenment and knowledge (as it introduced Victor to the
knowledge of Electricity), but it also foreshadows the destructive power such knowledge
holds. There was much irony in the birth of the monster. The creature was created to uncover
eternal life and the joy it shall bring, yet it caused nothing but death and misery. The creature was
not grateful for the creators gift of life; instead it hunts down the creator and brings grief and
despair to his life. The creature was shown to be gentle hearted, yet the way it seeks vengeance is
devious and malicious. In many ways, the creature and Victor are the same: they both were
lonely, miserable, vengeful and only wanted to do good deeds, yet they have only caused each
other anger and grief.
In conclusion, the smile Victor left at his deathbed showed contradictory emotions:
satisfaction and regret. I was confused upon discovering why a man who was not able to speak
his last words would leave this word with a smile. It is through small details like this that I
uncovered the reoccurring ironies that populated the story. These direct and indirect ironies
presented by the story of Victor Frankenstein hints on the irony in life we face every day, and

Page |5
even when we make our best efforts, we do not know that we are walking down the wrong path
until it is too late.