Every person reacts differently in front of a mirror. Some prefer to get ready and tidy their face while others take a quick glance and move on. However, there are others who continually look their alternate selves in the eye. These people ask themselves: “What do I see? » These are the kind of people who are desperate for answers to their existence and will not rest until their questions are answered. The alternative self is the true being. Although it remains a reflection of the physical body, it is also what we see within. What one sees in one's reflection is equal to the truth of one's nature. For some we see innate good, but for others it is the innate evil and horror of humanity. Victor Frankenstein may claim to be such a person, but he fulfills the ultimate taboo; he decides to bring his alternate self to life. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a book of mirrors that explores the idea of ​​the alternate self and suggests the terror of unleashing innate evil through Victor and his monster. At the very beginning of the novel, the first mirror appears through Walton. Walton writes to his sister to impose his ambitions on her, stating, “for nothing contributes so much to quieting the mind as a steady purpose, a point on which the soul can fix its intellectual eye” (Shelley 29). In other words, Walton explains his predicament as one of the most important goals in life. He sincerely believes that there is no greater goal in the world than to achieve one's ambitions, regardless of the consequences. His words are repeated throughout the novel not only by him but also by Victor. Although Walton is not Victor's physical reflection, he is a man of the same nature. “You seek knowledge and wisdom, as I once did... middle of paper... the man he is. He spent hours, even days, trying to create the being he saw. Victor needed to bring his alternate self to life. Maybe it's because he needed to shake the real Frankenstein's hand, or maybe he needed it to live before he could destroy the horrible side of his humanity. Some are able to manage who they are and change their flaws. These are the ones who spend a few minutes in front of their alternate self. Others are miserable and a lost cause. They obsess over every feature and try to create something better than what they see. The alternate self is the gateway to the real person within. It is the one we despise or love. As Victor Frankenstein never learned, he is also the one we think we must destroy. Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein; Case studies in contemporary criticism, 2cd ed. New York/Boston: Bedford/St. that of Martin, 2000.