distort-opia:

it’s also an interesting difference to the novel how in GDT’s Frankenstein, Victor does not even entertain the idea of saying “yes.” he doesn’t bend to anyone. not to society’s qualms and the protestations of his college, the demands of his disciplinary hearing. not to Harlander, who in the end essentially begged just for hope. just for Victor to say “yes”, since after Harlander’s death (which would’ve been necessary for his brain to be put inside the Creature’s skull) Victor could’ve simply not used his body. he could’ve simply lied to give him peace. but, completely caught up in his own head and failing to consider the consequences, he denies Harlander. who then obviously reacts violently, trying to force Victor’s hand.

it’s a parallel to how, when the Creature asked for a companion, Victor could’ve said “yes,” but he doesn’t even entertain the idea, he rejects it outright. he refuses to give any hope to the Creature, and fails to consider what reactions this might provoke– that the Creature will be angry. that what he keeps denying will be sought after by force, that the people around him won’t simply abide his whims however they come. that there will be consequences to his selfishness, like Harlander and Elizabeth and William dying.

“It’s still all about your will, Victor”. ultimately that’s the reason for the Creature declaring later on “You may be my Creator, but from this day forward, I will be your Master.” the Creature accurately identifies the source of the tragedy and sets out to break that horrible, horrible will, to force Victor to let go of his delusion of “conqueror”. the madness that set all of them on this path, the madness that couldn’t abide being told “no” by Elizabeth but refused to say anything other than “no” to the people around him. “The miracle is not that I should speak, but that you would ever listen!”

he’d told the Creature to kill him after Elizabeth and William’s deaths, but that would have simply proven him right in his view of the Creature as the villain, the monster, so the Creature becomes the eagle feasting on Prometheus’ liver instead. him dying then would have been too easy of a punishment. it’s only after a long series of hurts and dealt pain, it’s only on his deathbed that Victor truly listens. his will is allowed to bend when he has no other choice, when his body is broken and dying. when he doesn’t have to live with himself after admitting to his wrongdoings, when he doesn’t have to be the one who “wins it all” anymore. “My father gave me that name”, and all Victor had done afterwards was try to measure up to it, to be it, but in the end it meant nothing. as he’s dying, he wants it given back to him but not with fear, not like when Elizabeth begged the Creature to take her away from the man who’d killed her, not like when William told him he’d always feared him as his last breath left him. he wants it given back to him as proof of having once been loved.