Frankenstein's monster's namelessness denotes his abject status, but - paradoxically - by not defining and curtailing him, it allows him to take control of the novel.
Namelessness can be used to dehumanise; by denying something a name, we deny it authority and individuality. It is an effective technique for imposing control or for cultural assimilation. For instance, in the American South, African slaves had their real names taken away and were re-christened by their "masters"; in many cases, these names were intended to demean them or to signify their conversion to Christianity. Victor, by refusing to give his creature a name, denies him legitimacy and de-personalises him.
Namelessness is also common among monsters. Another famous fictional creation, Grendel's mother from "Beowulf", although arguably more monstrous than her son, is defined only in relation to him. Many monsters, such as the Wolfman and Mummy, are known by their type rather than an individual signifier. Frankenstein's monster is not even given that privilege: at various times throughout the text, he is a "wretch", a "monster", a "creature", a "daemon", a "devil", a "fiend". He lacks not only a personal name, but also a categorical name, further emphasising his isolation and denoting his liminal status. By refusing to categorise him, Shelley opens him up to endless interpretations: we can see him as either a wretched Adam or a twisted Lucifer, amongst other things.
Despite his abjection, when we think of Frankenstein, it is the monster we remember: it is a common fallacy to believe that "Frankenstein" is the name of the monster rather than his creator. The monster, lacking the identity conferred by a name, invades the empty spaces of the novel. He is so powerful that he wrests control of the name of the book and the name of his creator. In other words, if the monster was named, we would remember his name: but nameless, he steals "Frankenstein" from his creator and from the novel itself.
Despite his abjection, when we think of Frankenstein, it is the monster we remember: it is a common fallacy to believe that "Frankenstein" is the name of the monster rather than his creator. The monster, lacking the identity conferred by a name, invades the empty spaces of the novel. He is so powerful that he wrests control of the name of the book and the name of his creator. In other words, if the monster was named, we would remember his name: but nameless, he steals "Frankenstein" from his creator and from the novel itself.
Illustration by Bernie Wrightson
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