First off, I want to say it's so impressive that Mary Shelley, a young girl of 18 or 19 wrote a book this good, with so many layers to it ripe for analysis and interpretation. Show a level of intelligence, skill, and maturity that much older people often lack.
Second, before reading the book, I thought Frankenstein was the name of the monster. Then I read the book and realized Frankenstein was the name…of the monster. :p
Seriously though, I both sympathize with and dislike Frankenstein. Sometimes he is like that innocent and highly intelligent and curious kid doing things he does not realize will have severe consequences. Like scientists who did the basic research that was used as the foundation for creating the atomic bomb. At other times he seems to be so full of himself, like an egotistical, moody, and irresponsible parent. Or, well, a merciless God.
One last observation: I very much appreciated Shelley allowing the creature to tell his own story, something that I feel was not often the case for people back in the 1700s and 1800s, especially for women and children. But she respects the creature enough to allow him to tell his story and I felt that showed great humanity.
by livelongandperspire