Frankenstein's Oedipal Issues

It was pretty evident right from the start that Frankenstein had Oedipal issues. When Victor's mother died, Elizabeth gained his interest, because she assumed the motherly role. The dream in which Elizabeth transformed into his mother's rotting corpse, is evidence to show that his passion for Elizabeth was merely transference from his feelings toward his mother. Also, when he decides to create life, he's doing it in hopes of bringing his mother back to life. He even originally described his monster as "beautiful" and then called it demon. I think he had this reaction, because he realized even if he could bring back his mother he'd be doing God's work. Man is merely mortal and thinking otherwise is a sin. After he creates the monster, he runs into the courtyard and looks up to the moonlit sky. On would say he's being judged by God, but I believe he was looking for his mother's presence. It was in that moment he felt abandoned all over again, but this time not of his mother, but of hope.

Victor's Oedipal complex almost consume him when he contemplates suicide. It's the way he planned it that's significant. He was on a boat in the middle of the lake and planned on drowning himself. By doing this, he'd be regressing back to the womb. Water is symbolic of womb and this has Oedipal significance, because the womb is the closest a child can ever be to their mother. Later, he faces he attempts to bring back his mother again when his monster (or his personified Oedipal issue) demands a female. When he realizes the possible havoc it could bring, Victor dumps it into the water on which the moon is reflecting. This supports the theory that the failed attempt was the mother. Lastly, while he has feeling for Elizabeth, the only reason he's really pushing to marry her is because it was his mother's dying wish that they would do so. He's doing this to honor her. Even in death he can't let go.