The monster created by Victor Frankenstein doesn’t get an official name in the book. It’s accurate to call him “Frankenstein’s monster”, but not to call him Frankenstein.
Frankenstein is the Name of the Doctor, Not the Monster fact
Was Frankenstein the Name of the Monster?
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in which Victor Frankenstein creates an unnamed “monster.” [1]
FACT: Although Victor is often called “Doctor” in movie versions of Frankenstein, he isn’t a doctor in the book. In the book, Victor Frankenstein is an scientist with a background in the theory of medicine. Excuse the meme at the top of the page in this respect, it makes sense in context of the movie… but not the book.
What Was Frankenstein’s Monster’s Name?
In the novel, the monster is identified by words such as “creature”, “monster”, “demon”, and “it.” Speaking to Victor Frankenstein, the monster refers to himself as “the Adam of your labours,” and elsewhere as someone who “would have” been “your Adam,” but is instead “your fallen angel.” [2]
Simply put, the “monster” doesn’t get an official name in the book, but it is accurate to refer to him as “Frankenstein’s monster” as Victor Frankenstein created him.
FACT: Although in the movies the “monster” is presented as not being intelligent, this isn’t the case in the book. The monsters teaches himself to read and speak, has a long monologue full of introspection and philosophical musing, and makes some complex decisions and demands in the book.
Conclusion
References
- “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus“. etc.usf.edu. Retrieved Sep. 28, 2015.
- “Frankenstein”. Wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sep. 28, 2015.
Author: Thomas DeMichele
Thomas DeMichele is the content creator behind ObamaCareFacts.com, FactMyth.com, CryptocurrencyFacts.com, and other DogMediaSolutions.com and Massive Dog properties. He also contributes to MakerDAO and other cryptocurrency-based projects. Tom's focus in all...
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Gabriel Losch Doesn't beleive this myth.
Actually, Victor and the Monster are thecnically dad and son, so it’s not wrong to call him Frankenstein.
Thomas DeMicheleThe Author Did not vote.
Interesting perspective.
Rich Chafey Supports this as a Fact.
Nicolle Wallace on her MSNBC talk show has confused the character Doctor Frankenstein with the monster he created at least twice on her program. Can someone please set her straight?
Howard Doesn't beleive this myth.
Read the book. Victor Frankenstein is 19-years old when he creates his being. He IS NOT a doctor, never has been and never will be.
Thomas DeMicheleThe Author Did not vote.
Really great point, not sure why I called him Doctor aside from it being stuck in my head due to popular lore. I did read the book back when I wrote this page, but honestly I had skim back through it after you said this. You are right though, the book never says he is a doctor. That said, it does to be fair says he studied the theory of medicine (which is I’m sure partly where they pulled the doctor idea from for the movies).
Carol Diaz-Sterling Did not vote.
I thought the monster’s name was Tom? Didn’t he get body parts from a cadaver called Tom?
Thomas DeMicheleThe Author Did not vote.
Interesting, I’ll have to look through the book again and see.
Belen Did not vote.
The doctor was a monster.
Thomas DeMicheleThe Author Did not vote.
The book is ripe with metaphors and subtext, one could easily see the doctor as a monster for a variety of reasons. See some political metaphors in the book here for an idea of the different ways in which the book could be read: http://factmyth.com/factoids/frankenstein-can-be-read-as-a-political-metaphor/