I Don't Like Frankenstein(the character)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a rather interesting book in that it is hard to tell who is actually supposed to be the protagonist/antagonist.  The two main characters, Dr. Frankenstein and his creation, have both their unique flaws and their unique qualities.  Although the book never necessarily come out and tell the reader who is supposed to be who, but from what I can tell, Frankenstein was a character made to not be liked.  Just everything about him is just annoying in every way.  He’s whiny, over dramatic, and constantly uses his own creation, who has shown to have done nothing wrong, as a scapegoat for his own problems.   

Frankenstein’s most standout hate-able trait is that he refuses to take responsibility for his actions.  He most unnaturally and evilly brought about life from death, and while it is an admirable cause to remove the threat of the end from life, as soon as he realizes what he has done he just chooses to forget about it and ignore it.  He gets woken up by his creation and is disgusted by what he has made, and just leaves and doesn't go back.  Rejected by his own creator, the creature has no choice but to leave, for if his own life-bringer cannot accept him, who else will?  It’s rather disgusting what Frankenstein does, and despite the fact that what he did was rather evil and basely unlikable, if he had simply loved his creation as any father would he wouldn't be nearly as hated.  Yet no, Frankenstein is content with forgetting about all the evils he has done, and even seeing scientific equipment causes him to feel woozy and sick.  Poor Dr. Frankenstein is distraught with grief for the evils he willingly did after much deliberation.  Imagine how it must feel to be told by the person who created you that they regretted the very act that gave you life.  That is the life that the creature must endure, hated by all, even his creator. 

So yeah, Frankenstein is a real whiny prick, and I hate him, but it is quite interesting that Shelley gave Frankenstein top billing, yet she also wrote him like a total ass.  Perhaps it is some commentary on the scientists of the time, yet Frankenstein also seems to have many of the qualities Romanticists love, so it is hard to say whether Frankenstein is really meant to be such an abominable character.