Victor Frankenstein

[Lithorn]

I'm writing and essay on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", discussing how Victor Frankenstein lives only in a theoretical world, blind to practical application. It occurred to me that this sounded rather intp. But he has way too much focus and follow-through. INTJ maybe...?

 

[The Lurker]

I personally do think he best fits the INTP type, but Shelley gave him the J "follow through", as you described, so that the plot can progress, and so readers don't lose their patience while reading the novel.

Let's face it: true INTPs make much better supporting characters than main characters. :P

 

[Anthile]

The mad scientist archetype is definitely NTP territory. However, bear in mind that authors have no idea about MBTI and very often even create nonsensical characters. That can work but mostly it just doesn't.
I never read Frankenstein so I cannot really comment further on this.

 

[Lithorn]

I personally do think he best fits the INTP type, but Shelley gave him the J "follow through", as you described, so that the plot can progress, and so readers don't lose their patience while reading the novel.

Let's face it: true INTPs make much better supporting characters than main characters. :P

When you mentioned people "losing their patience" that reminded me of another reason I don't think Victor's really intp. Every other page I found myself annoyed with his irrational, emotional behavior. He's constantly freaking out and having nervous fevers. I mean, yes, he's a mad scientist, but he has the maturity level of a six-year-old.

 

[Cognisant]

It's in the term Mad Scientist.

All INTPs have what could be called a scientific mind, but Victor Frankenstein wasn't just a scientist, he was a mad scientist, someone who goes beyond simply observing and tries to learn more about the world by taking it apart and putting it back together, trying to change it. Frankenstein wasn't trying to resurrect someone he loved or build an undead super solider, his creation of the monster was for the sake of understanding the nature of life & dead, nothing less, nothing more.

Y'know its funny how high level 'P' types oscillate between apathy & obsession.

 

[Adymus]

The mad scientist archetype is definitely NTP territory.

No it isn't.


Nikola Tesla practically made the Mad Scientist Archetype and he was an INTJ

 

[Anthile]

No it isn't.


Nikola Tesla practically made the Mad Scientist Archetype and he was an INTJ

Stop making such claims without sources or explanations.

Also, the very first mad scientist archetype was Daedalus who built all kinds of crazy stuff like, y'know, the minotaur maze or artificial wings. Then there is also Leonardo da Vinci who was real and even crazier - he thought about constructing robots in 1495. Not to forget the whole profession of the alchemist, which I guess would count as mad science by today's standards. The cinematical mad scientist was pretty much defined by Rotwang in Lang's Metropolis, complete with robotic hand (later borrowed by Darth Vader and Dr. Strangelove), Einsteinian hair, mad science lab and robot waifu.

 

[BigApplePi]

It's in the term Mad Scientist.

All INTPs have what could be called a scientific mind, but Victor Frankenstein wasn't just a scientist, he was a mad scientist, someone who goes beyond simply observing and tries to learn more about the world by taking it apart and putting it back together, trying to change it. Frankenstein wasn't trying to resurrect someone he loved or build an undead super solider, his creation of the monster was for the sake of understanding the nature of life & dead, nothing less, nothing more.

Y'know its funny how high level 'P' types oscillate between apathy & obsession.

Well good for the good Doctor Vic. He succeeded in his creation but couldn't control it. It got loose and started to explore behaving randomly. The monster was an ESFP? Not satisfied with his creation, Doctor Vic decided on a mate for his magnificent creation.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1358103321/

Of course the producers of this film are biased and don't understand INTPs and their creations.

 

[Lithorn]

Well good for the good Doctor Vic. He succeeded in his creation but couldn't control it. It got loose and started to explore behaving randomly. The monster was an ESFP? Not satisfied with his creation, Doctor Vic decided on a mate for his magnificent creation.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1358103321/

Of course the producers of this film are biased and don't understand INTPs and their creations.

Actually, in the book it's not so much a matter of the monster being uncontrollable. In fact it yearns for guidance and affection from Victor. It was Victor that was being irrational. He spends years obsessively trying to bring a dead thing to life, and the moment it opens its eyes he freaks out and runs away. Childlike, the monster is shaped by this rejection from a parent-figure.

 

[Trebuchet]

Actually, in the book it's not so much a matter of the monster being uncontrollable. In fact it yearns for guidance and affection from Victor. It was Victor that was being irrational. He spends years obsessively trying to bring a dead thing to life, and the moment it opens its eyes he freaks out and runs away. Childlike, the monster is shaped by this rejection from a parent-figure.

That's pretty much how I always saw it. I had to study this book in college. All science majors did. I wrote my essay about what a terrible parent Vic was. He deliberately created life and then rejected it, completely failing in his responsibilities. I never considered whether he was an INTP. Mary Shelley certainly wasn't, so I don't know how well she could have captured the personality anyway.

Now, Frederick Frankenstein was more of an ESTP, I think, despite also being a mad scientist.