Paradise Lost influenced Frankenstein

John Milton's Paradise Lost provides the novel's most important literary framework for interpreting the Creature's identity. After reading the poem, the Creature compares himself first to Adam, believing he should have been loved by his creator, and then to Satan, feeling rejected and driven toward revenge. Victor resembles God as the creator but fails in the care and guidance expected of a creator, while the Creature's transformation from innocence to bitterness parallels Satan's fall from grace. By adapting Milton's retelling of biblical creation and rebellion, Shelley deepens her exploration of isolation, injustice, and the consequences of neglected responsibility.