How is The Monster a foil to Victor Frankensten and how did this develop throughout the story?

A foil character is one that contrasts with another
character, usually the protagonist. The contrast is used to emphasize certain traits of
the protagonist.

Although the description of Victor and the
Monster can vary, Victor is usually described as selfish and arrogant, and suffering
from a god-complex. These characteristics are revealed through Victor's actions in the
first part of the novel. His total disregard for his friends and family and his
overly-ambitious pursuit of knowledge portray him as a man willing to go to any extreme
to reach his goals. In addition, Victor abandoning the creature shows him as a weak man
unable to accept the consequences of his actions.

However,
the Monster is often considered compassionate and selfless. As the Monster reveals his
tale to Victor, the reader is shown how human the monster is. The Monster takes refuge
in the small things in life--fire, reading, family. In addition, the Monster recounts
the "barbarity of man". Upon the Monster's first visit to a village, he is attacked and
rejected.

The treatment of the monster is the complete
opposite of Victor, making the monster a foil to Victor. The monster is portrayed as
grotesque and abnormal while his thoughts and feelings show true compassion. But, he is
still rejected by Victor and society. Victor, on the other hand, is accepted by everyone
even though his actions appear to be truly
grotesque.

Another aspect of the monster being a foil to
Victor is the plot. In a framed narration, such as Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein, there are several plots taking place. Sometimes the
plot of one becomes a foil to another. In the case of Frankenstein,
the monster's plot becomes the foil to Victor's. Victor's tale is presented at the
beginning of the novel, beginning with his privileged childhood. The monster's tale is
presented in the second half of the novel, and, it too, begins with the monster's
childhood, however, clearly not a privileged one. The differences in the two character's
"lives" allow the reader to gain perspective into each character's actions and
decisions. It is used to emphasize, in this case, the extreme consequences of Victor's
behavior.