Frankenstein Frankenstein is the creator of a monster. His monster became his child. He was the parent, and he was responsible for the monster. The theme of the parent and child relationship is shown throughout the movie Young Frankenstein and the book Frankenstein.
The theme of parent and child relationship is shown in different ways throughout the book Frankenstein and the movie Young Frankenstein. In the book the monster had no one to take care of him. So, he had to learn on his own. The creature has a lot in common with a child. He had to learn as any child would have to. A good example of him learning like a child is when he put his hand in the fire. He stated, “One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain” (Shelley 72). The creature learned not to put his hands too close to the fire or he would get burned. Just like a child would learn this by putting his hands on a stove. The creature did not have a parent to warn him to not get too close to the fire. The creature is just like a child with no parents. Since he had no one to teach him things, he had to learn on his own. He had to learn how to speak and read on his own. The creature discovered, “that these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and feelings to one another by articulate sounds” (Shelley 78). He learned how to speak by listening in on their conversations. He learned just like a child would learn how to speak from listening to his parents.
In the book he was rejected and neglected by his creator. So he resented his creator and became violent. A child would do the same if he was mistreated or rejected by his parents. The monster is in the exact same situation. The creature sought love and compassion and was denied everywhere he went. Everywhere he went people were terrified by his appearance. He was attacked in several circumstances. He was attacked when going through a village, by the cottagers, and even after saving a girl from drowning. The monster did not understand why everyone resented him. Even after all of this, he still didn’t give up. He begged Frankenstein to make a partner for him. The only thing the creature wants is a companion. He just wants someone who he can relate to. The creature stated, “Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless, and free from the misery I now feel” (105). The monster says that they will be peaceful and isolated from the world. He doesn’t want to feel alone and rejected for the rest of his life. In the end, his request was denied. Frankenstein destroyed his work and vowed not to create another monster. Now his only chance for love and compassion was destroyed. This was all the monster wanted. Even Frankenstein, his parental figure rejects him. He was disgusted by his creature’s appearance and could not even bare to look at him. This rejection is what drove the creature to hatred and violence. The rejection from his creator led to the destruction of many, including the lives of everyone Frankenstein loved and Frankenstein himself.
When In Young Frankenstein, it shows the theme of the parent and child conflict in an entirely different way. In the movie the monster was not rejected. Frankenstein took care of the monster as if it was his only child. He was proud of his creation. He showed it love and compassion. He taught it how to walk, sit, and move around. He even taught it how to speak somewhat. The monster understood words and sentences. He understood what he was told. Eventually the monster was taught enough to perform in front of a crowd. The people were terrified at first, but they calmed down and actually enjoyed themselves. They were amazed by the creature’s abilities. They looked past his appearance and saw that he was not the frightening monster that he appeared to be. Since the monster had a parental figure to steer him in the right direction, he did not become angry and violent. The monster became kind and compassionate, instead of hateful and violent. Frankenstein loved his creation so much that he gave up his own brain, so that his monster could become intelligent. Since the monster was shown love and compassion he did not cause destruction. This resulted in a vastly different ending. The monster and Frankenstein were both happy, and no one else got hurt. Both the movie and the book show the theme of the parent and child conflict remarkably well. In the book it shows what can happen if the child is rejected by the parent. While in the movie it shows what happens when the child has a caregiver. The monster represents the child, and Frankenstein represents the parent. When the monster is rejected he follows a dark path. He turns to violence and becomes filled with hatred. He starts hurting people and destroying things. He destroys the lives of everyone around Frankenstein and eventually him too. Then the monster is left all alone. When the monster is shown love and compassion he lives peacefully and gains friends. The monster actually becomes a part of society just like any other human being. The movie and book show two contrasting paths that teach the same lesson. Both of these paths show the theme of the parent and child conflict.

Works Cited
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1994. Print. Young Frankenstein. Dir. Mel Brooks. Twentieth Century Fox, 2006. Film.