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An antagonist is a character or force that works against the objectives of the protagonist, or the central character of a story. Read more: What Is an Antagonist in Literature?
The Monster as the Antagonist of Frankenstein
The Monster is Frankenstein’s antagonist; he thwarts Victor Frankenstein’s goal both by what he does and what he is. Frankenstein’s ambition is to achieve something great, but the Monster’s terrifying appearance forces Frankenstein to recognize that not only has he not achieved something great, he may have done something terrible. Once the Monster starts killing everyone Frankenstein loves, Frankenstein can’t help but acknowledge that his creation has the potential for evil. After being thwarted in his desire to create something good, Frankenstein’s ambition requires him to destroy the Monster, but again the Monster thwarts him. Another possible antagonist is Frankenstein himself. If the Monster is the true protagonist of the novel, Frankenstein is his antagonist. Frankenstein directly thwarts the Monster’s goal of human connection by refusing to sympathize with the Monster himself and refusing to create a companion for him. The Monster initially sees Frankenstein as a father figure, but Frankenstein denies him a familial relationship. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein repeatedly denies the Monster everything he wants, and antagonizes the Monster into committing acts of violence.
