Why Frankenstein’s powerful ending change from the classic novel was the right decision to make

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With Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein now streaming on Netflix, expect plenty of debate about the true meaning of Mary Shelley’s famous novel. People will be discussing its themes for weeks – is it about the dangers of technology, the evils of slavery and colonialism, a loss of faith, family rejection, the challenges of parenthood, human arrogance, the power of women, or understanding those who are different?

Many people will strongly advocate for a single way to understand Frankenstein. However, that actually diminishes what makes the novel so special. There are valid arguments for countless interpretations, and even more emerge when you consider different perspectives. Frankenstein is endlessly rich in themes and cleverly structured – it’s a story within a story, within a story. We have a narrator who shares a tale told to him by Victor Frankenstein, who himself is relaying the story he heard from the Creature he created.

Although it’s tempting to criticize Guillermo del Toro for deviating from the original novel, the changes he did make ultimately create a more impactful film than a strict adaptation would have, particularly with the altered ending to Mary Shelley’s classic.

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In his take on Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro addresses Mary Shelley as a fellow artist, recognizing their shared Romantic sensibilities. He deliberately focuses on the emotional impact the story had on him, believing this personal connection represents a deeper and more authentic understanding of Frankenstein.

Guillermo del Toro finds a deeply personal connection to the story of Frankenstein. He believes that all parents, in a way, play the role of God when they bring a child into the world, and that their actions – both loving and harmful – can have a huge impact. In his adaptation, both Victor Frankenstein and his Creature are caught in a repeating pattern of mistreatment and abandonment. Unlike the original novel, Victor’s father isn’t portrayed as a kind man; instead, he’s a controlling figure who sees Victor as merely a continuation of his own medical career, constantly reminding him, “You carry my name, Victor, and with it, my reputation.”

The origins of Frankenstein lie partly in Mary Shelley’s personal life. She began writing the novel after her father, William Godwin, disapproved of her relationship with Percy Bysshe Shelley and essentially rejected her. It’s likely this feeling of abandonment deeply influenced how she portrayed the Creature’s point of view.

After the Creature is brought to life, Victor attempts to teach him to speak, starting with names. He points to himself and says, “Victor.” To Victor’s dismay, the Creature repeats, “Victor, Victor, Victor…” endlessly. This repetition initially annoys Victor, but eventually makes him angry, partly because he realizes the Creature may not be as intelligent as he’d expected.

Hearing his name repeatedly fills Victor with disgust, as he realizes the creature he tried to make superior – better than both himself and his father’s vision – has become merely a mirror of his own flaws. Ultimately, children are formed by the love they receive, or the lack of it, and by the expectations placed upon them. When Victor’s father speaks his name, it carries the burden of those expectations; when the creature first says it, it’s an expression of love.

Del Toro significantly alters the Creature’s motivations. Instead of harming Victor’s family out of revenge for being denied a companion, the Creature’s violence is directed at Victor himself, highlighting a repeating pattern of cause and effect.

The Creature is still filled with anger, but now he focuses it on Victor. He violently attacks him, throwing him around, stabbing him, and breaking his nose. “You only pay attention when I make you suffer!” he shouts. It’s easy to picture Victor’s father having used similar harsh tactics to get his son to listen.

This is the heart of how del Toro reimagines the story. Unlike the book, where Victor is already dead when the Creature discovers him, here Victor chooses to leave and end his own suffering. This gives us a satisfying resolution.

Victor pleads with his creation, “Say my name.” He explains that the name, given to him by his father, once felt meaningless, but now he wants to hear it spoken again – the way the Creature said it when they first met, when it held so much significance. The Creature complies, uttering the name with affection before departing towards the rising sun, hoping to find a way to live.

Mary Shelley grew up during and after the Age of Enlightenment, a time that valued logic, reason, and scientific progress. Her character, Victor Frankenstein, strongly reflects these beliefs.

However, Mary Shelley was a key figure in the Romantic movement – as were her husband and their friend Lord Byron, both of whom Guillermo del Toro draws inspiration from. She wrote Frankenstein in part to examine the concerns Romantics had about how technological progress might affect our relationship with nature, spirituality, and our own identities.

In Guillermo del Toro’s film, Victor’s love interest, Elizabeth, represents a romantic and hopeful perspective. Like Victor, she’s intelligent and inquisitive, but she views the wonders of the natural world—like a butterfly—as evidence of a divine plan, finding them beautiful and meaningful. This belief is central to her understanding of life, and it allows her to approach the Creature with empathy, accepting him without needing to explain or control him.

Perhaps Shelley’s warnings didn’t come soon enough. She foresaw the dangers from a distance, but we’re now fully experiencing the consequences of creations – both technological and destructive – that have spiraled out of control.

She believed a person is much happier accepting their hometown as their entire world, rather than striving for more than they’re capable of. Imagine what she’d think now – we can’t even disconnect from the world, with it constantly flooding in through our phones. And we’re even sharing pieces of ourselves with AI like ChatGPT, just to get its opinion!

Guillermo del Toro’s latest film feels like a modern take on Frankenstein. It’s a deeply personal story, and one many of us can likely relate to – aren’t we all, in a way, struggling to find our place in a world that doesn’t quite fit? Like Victor Frankenstein, what choice do we have but to keep living?

Frankenstein is available to watch now on Netflix.

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2025-11-08 23:20