In a world where the shadows of racial otherness and prejudice loom large, one might ask: are we the architects of the very monsters we fear? From the haunting echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to the piercing truths of James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, the question of responsibility reverberates—are we doomed to reap the toxic harvest of the hatred we sow? This cycle of creation and consequence extends beyond mere literature, permeating history with instances of racial holy wars and figures like Charles Manson, who manipulated these dark forces to fuel violence and division. As we examine these narratives, we are compelled to confront whether society’s legacy of racial otherness and prejudice has cursed us with an inescapable destiny, or if redemption is still within reach.

While reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, I realized a common thread of racism and otherness. In both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, the themes of race and otherness reveal the impact of societal rejection and prejudice, reflecting modern society’s ongoing struggles with racial discrimination and the marginalization of those deemed ‘other.’

In Frankenstein, race is not explicitly discussed in the modern sense, but themes of otherness and alienation are central to the novel. The Creature, created by Victor Frankenstein, is portrayed as an outsider due to his physical appearance, which leads to his rejection by society. “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous Black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight Black lips” (Shelley 45). Although the Creature is not exactly of a different race, his monstrous appearance and the reactions of others to him can be seen as a metaphor for the experience of racial otherness. He is judged, feared, and cast out solely because of his difference from those around him, reflecting the way people of different races have been treated historically. The Creature’s plea for acceptance and his subsequent rage, when he is denied, can be linked to the struggles faced by those who are marginalized and othered in society.

In contrast, The Fire Next Time directly addresses race in the context of American society. Baldwin explores the realities of being Black in America, focusing on the systemic racism and oppression faced by Black people: “The Negro can precipitate this abdication because white Americans have never, in all their long history, been able to look on him as a man like themselves. This point need not be labored; it is proved over and over again by the Negro’s continuing position here, and his indescribable struggle to defeat the stratagems that white Americans have used, and use, to deny him his humanity” (Baldwin 92-93). Baldwin describes race as a social construct used to justify the subjugation of Black people, rooted in the power dynamics of white supremacy. Baldwin’s work is a powerful critique of the racial inequalities that pervade American life, from personal interactions to institutionalized racism. His reflections on race emphasize the psychological and social impact of being Black in a society built on racial discrimination, as well as the importance of confronting these injustices to move toward true equality.

To start, the themes of race and otherness are apparent throughout Frankenstein. Mary Shelley does a great job of including these themes as subtly as they appear in reality. It becomes a part of the plot that readers understand that this is an issue but characters see it as a way of life. It is surely a way of life for the Creature as it’s all he’s known. The Creature laments, “You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me” (Shelley 91). The creature has grown accustomed to the hate he gets from others. He is not human yet he is also not an animal. He has no companion to help him get through, everyone including his creator, his God, detests him. The hatred spewed at the Creature is extremely similar to the hatred Baldwin discusses in The Fire Next Time. Racism and prejudice have been around for centuries and only ruin lives and self-esteem. The prejudice and racism the creature faces daily and his alienation forcing him into otherness makes me realize how much as a society we have not changed. In 2024, we have people shouting that God will not love you unless you live or look a certain way, we have people judging others based on the color of their skin, and we have people who refuse to accept others outside of their own culture and race. When will we learn that alienating people to the point of otherness and racism will only breed our demise? It will not help us advance as a society. Mary Shelley’s inclusion of the Creature being a societal outcast helps bring to life the effects racism and otherness have on a person.

The torment that the Creature inflicts on society is a direct result of his rejection. His murderous rampage and relentless torment is him acting out because he wants to be loved, but no one wants to see him for who he is; everyone would rather judge him on his appearance. There are multiple instances where the creature voices this. He would have preferred to be a kind and loving individual. Still, no one wanted to believe he was capable of being one: “… I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend” (Shelley 90-91). The Creature had no intention of being a danger to society, society created its issue by being close-minded. The Creature is a victim and a product of its circumstances. Society spewed its hate and contempt for it and over time the Creature retaliated. The Creature’s path shows that our actions have a huge effect on other people’s lives. As a society, we need to come together and stop our crusade from deeming certain people as others and judging based on race. We have to look for the best in others. As long as we continue to reject, isolate, and dehumanize those who do not fit our preconceived notions, we risk creating monsters of our own making—individuals pushed to the margins and driven to respond with the very cruelty they have been shown.

The themes of racism and otherness are similarly apparent in The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin as he searches on his crusade to fight for equality, we see the various instances where his race makes him another. Baldwin asserts “You were born where you were born, you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were Black and for no other reason” (Baldwin 4). This quote underscores the profound impact of race, particularly Blackness, on shaping an individual’s future. It highlights how being born Black often dictates the opportunities and challenges one faces due to systemic racism. In modern society, this remains evident in areas like education, employment, and criminal justice, where Black individuals frequently encounter discrimination and bias. The idea of race as a determinant of one’s path reflects the persistence of racial hierarchies that continue to marginalize and exclude. This also ties into the concept of “otherness,” where being Black often means being perceived as different or less than, reinforcing social boundaries. Despite progress, the struggle against these deeply ingrained structures continues, as efforts continue to create a more equitable society.

Baldwin also talks about the world Black people live in and how it differs from the world white people live in. It is a daunting experience to be Black in America because it is not our world. Baldwin states that “Negroes in this country—and Negroes do not, strictly or legally speaking, exist in any other—are taught really to despise themselves from the moment their eyes open on the world” (Baldwin 25). This quote emphasizes how American society systematically imposes a sense of inferiority on Black people from the moment they are born. It suggests that Black individuals are subjected to a societal structure that defines them as “other,” constantly reminding them that they are different and lesser. This enforced otherness is deeply rooted in the history and fabric of the nation, where laws, social norms, and cultural narratives have been designed to marginalize Black people. In modern society, this dynamic is still evident in the racial profiling, economic disparities, and social exclusion that many Black people face. The quote highlights how racism is not just about individual acts of prejudice but is embedded in the institutions and attitudes that shape everyday life, perpetuating the cycle of otherness and exclusion.

The Creature’s experience in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley closely parallels the experiences of many Black people as depicted in James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. The Creature and Black individuals are subjected to societal rejection based on characteristics beyond their control. This imposed otherness forces them into roles of outcasts, as society perceives them as inherently different and inferior. Baldwin describes how Black people in America are systematically marginalized and dehumanized, much like how the Creature is denied humanity and acceptance. This exclusion leads to a deep sense of alienation, anger, and despair, as both the Creature and Black individuals are denied their rightful place in society. In Frankenstein, the creature expresses a deep sense of despair and bitterness with the line, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?” (Shelley 136). This quote encapsulates the idea that the creature’s venom directly responds to the rejection and hatred he experiences from society. The creature is “shunned and hated” not because of his actions but because of his appearance—his “otherness.” This resonates with the experience of marginalized individuals who are often judged and ostracized based on superficial characteristics rather than their inherent humanity. The creature’s misery, born from isolation and societal prejudice, drives him to embrace the very malice that the world projects onto him.

On the other hand, in The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin writes, “The terrible thing, old buddy, is that you must accept them. And I mean that very seriously. You must accept them and accept them with love” (Baldwin 8). Baldwin challenges the reader, particularly Black Americans, to accept those who perpetuate racism and prejudice. This acceptance, however, is not an endorsement of their actions but a recognition of humanity in even those who are oppressed. Baldwin’s call to “accept them with love” speaks to a radical form of resilience and resistance against the dehumanization that comes with racism. It’s an assertion that the only way to rise above the hatred and prejudice that seek to destroy one’s spirit is through love and understanding—a love that acknowledges the shared humanity even in those who inflict pain.

As we reflect on the journey from otherness to oppression, it becomes clear that some who have been marginalized may, in their quest for power or survival, inadvertently mirror the behaviors of their oppressors. This tragic cycle is emblematic of the effects of racial otherness, which often forces individuals and communities into roles they never sought to play. Unlike the creature in Frankenstein, who is born in a place of isolation and rejection, Black people in modern society are not inherently monstrous. Still, they are instead shaped by the persistent forces of prejudice that deny them humanity. The consequences of this otherness ripple through time, manifesting in systemic inequalities and social unrest, as those deemed “other” continue to fight for recognition and equality. In understanding these dynamics, we must consider our role in breaking this cycle and whether we will continue to create the monsters we fear. These texts, though separated by time and genre, converge on the notion that when society fails to recognize the humanity in those it deems different, it sows the seeds of its undoing. Shelley’s and Baldwin’s works reveal the profound psychological and social consequences of such othering, making them powerful commentaries on the enduring effects of racism and exclusion in society. The experiences of both the Creature and Black people underscore the destructive impact of being cast as “other” and highlight the ongoing struggle to challenge and dismantle the structures that perpetuate racial inequality and marginalization. As we grapple with the legacy of racial prejudice in our modern world, we must ask ourselves whether we will perpetuate the cycle of fear and hatred, or if we will finally take responsibility for the monsters we’ve created, seeking redemption through understanding, empathy, and justice. The choice, and the karma it brings, is ours to decide.

Works Cited

Baldwin, James. The Fire Next Time. Vintage, 1993.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, et al. Frankenstein: The 1818 Text. Penguin Books, 2018.