In the dim shadows of a world filled with debates on sanity and the bounds of human understanding, there exists a figure whose voice echoes with a poignant resonance. He is the product of ambition and recklessness, stitched together from the disparate fragments of life itself. He is the Creature of Frankenstein, and today, he speaks out against the very creator who birthed him into existence.
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant but troubled mind behind the creation of the Creature, has once again ignited controversy with his remarks on madness. In recent statements on X (formerly known as Twitter), Dr. Frankenstein boldly asserted that self-declaration of madness does not equate to true insanity, a stance that has drawn ire from both medical professionals and those who champion the rights of the mentally afflicted.
The timing of Dr. Frankenstein’s remarks is particularly egregious, coming on the heels of a divisive new law in Switzerland. This law, which criminalizes the doubting of someone’s self-professed madness, has polarized the populace, igniting fierce debates on the nature of mental illness and personal autonomy.
For the Creature, these developments strike a deeply personal chord. “I was born out of the fevered ambitions of a man who sought to defy the natural order, truly a mad scientist if there ever was one.” The creature lamented. “He understands all too well the pain of being judged and ostracized for simply existing outside the norms of society, seeking to create life where there was none through his bizarre but ingenious experiments. To cheapen someone else’s experience and self-image, simply because they weren’t born mad like he was doesn’t seem like the same scientist I knew. It makes me really sad, ultimately, because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the experiments that he performed, and the life that he created in me, all of that is to me so deeply empathic.” And yet, despite his own origins, the Creature finds himself at odds with his creator’s views on madness. “A lot of people saw my creation and witnessed the potential of the madness in themselves.”
While he acknowledges that Dr. Frankenstein gave him life, the Creature refuses to remain silent in the face of views that could be construed as dismissive or even hostile towards those who claim to be struggling with mental illness. Though he may not have read the exact statements made by his creator, the Creature recognizes the importance of condemning any rhetoric that undermines the advances made by those who believe they should be in the field of mad science.
The Creature’s stance on madness may not be directly relevant to his own profession, currently a brick layer in southern New Jersey, or the adoration of his fans, but he believes it is a moral imperative to stand in solidarity with those who have been marginalized and misunderstood.
In the closing of his impassioned plea, the Creature offers a poignant comparison between mad science and wizardry. “Both are realms of human imagination and ambition, pushing the boundaries of what is deemed possible. Yet, while mad science seeks to unravel the mysteries of the natural world through experimentation and innovation, wizardry remains rooted in the realms of fantasy and illusion.” The Creature reasoned. “Doubting someone’s claims of madness is hindering their quest to change the natural world and themselves, which may ultimately prove their madness, just like doubting Harry Potter’s claims of being a wizard may have kept him from seeking to become one. Speaking of, I realize that my speaking out against my maker is essentially like Harry Potter, or at least the actor who played him in the movies, rebelling against the creator that allowed him the life he currently lives, but I feel like it’s important to separate myself from Dr. Frankenstein’s comments. I haven’t read them yet, but I have heard about them. Mad men are man men, born mad or not.”
In the timeless words of Mary Shelley, the creator of the Creature’s tale, “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” Let us heed these words and strive to create a world where all are valued and accepted, regardless of the shadows that may haunt their minds.
The Ghost of Andrew Crowe
