Frankenstein - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is not just scientific glory but a deeply personal need to surpass his cruel and powerful father, for whom he harbors immense resentment, particularly over the death of his mother.

Victor begins as a brilliant, ambitious, but deeply traumatized scientist, driven to conquer death to spite his abusive father. His initial triumph in creating life quickly turns to horror and disgust, leading him to abandon his creation. This act of negligence sets him on a downward spiral of guilt, fear, and vengeful obsession. Throughout the film, he is portrayed as a "brilliant but egotistical" man who sees himself as a victim, blind to the pain he causes. His arc is one of tragic realization; by the end, hunted by the Creature in the Arctic, he is forced to confront his failures as a creator and a 'father,' culminating in a moment of catharsis and apology before his death.

His core motivation is the universal desire for companionship, acceptance, and an answer to the question of his own existence and purpose.

Born into the world as a fully formed adult but with the mind of an infant, the Creature's journey is a rapid and painful education. Initially innocent and gentle, he is met with rejection and abuse from his creator and society. He learns language, empathy, and the cruelty of the world through observation, particularly of a blind man. His initial wonder turns to profound loneliness and then to rage directed solely at Victor for his cursed, solitary existence. His arc is not one of descending into evil, but of a tragic figure wrestling with an imposed, immortal suffering. In the end, he transcends his desire for vengeance, granting Victor forgiveness and choosing to embrace his eternal life, however brokenly.

She is motivated by a genuine sense of compassion and an innate kindness, attempting to bridge the gap between the feared Creature and the fearful humans around him.

In this adaptation, Elizabeth is engaged to Victor's younger brother, William, though Victor harbors feelings for her. She is characterized by her kindness and empathy, particularly in her interactions with the Creature, whom she treats with compassion rather than fear. This positions her as a moral center in the film, a stark contrast to Victor's cruelty. Her arc is ultimately tragic; she becomes an innocent victim in the conflict between creator and creation, killed accidentally by Victor. Mia Goth also plays the dual role of Victor's late mother, Claire, adding a Freudian layer to Victor's obsessions.

His motivations appear to stem from a place of choleric temper, control, and deep resentment, particularly towards his wife.

Leopold is a static but pivotal character whose influence looms over the entire narrative. He is a renowned physician, but is portrayed as a strict, oppressive, and abusive father to Victor. His cruelty is the catalyst for Victor's entire obsession, establishing the theme of generational trauma that defines the film. He does not have a developmental arc but serves as the origin point for the story's central tragedy, the original 'monster' who created the man that would create another.