About 50 people a year are killed by eating the raw Pufferfish meat called fugu. Puffer fish is so dangerous to ingest that only a few licensed chefs in Japan are legally allowed to serve it. Puffer fish did not start their lives with the intention of killing people, of course, just like the Creature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Frankenstein recalled his youth where his “ mother's tender caresses and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections” (21). In this passage one could almost see the beautiful Pufferfish swimming through the clear waters around Japan. Chefs train for nearly a year to learn how to properly remove tetrodotoxin, the deadly substance inside the fish. Frankenstein spent two years preparing to create the creature. “I treated the failure rather to my own inexperience and mistake then to a want of skill or fidelity and my instructors” (29). His arrogance would not allow him to feel that he was making a mistake by messing with nature. “I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation “ (38). The Pufferfish is so dangerous it is considered a biohazard. People in search of a cheap thrill can enter an establishment with a red flag next to a symbol of the Pufferfish to be served this delicacy. The Creature is a great deal like the fish, beautiful in his natural habitat, but prepared improperly can be deadly. Once the creature had been created his power was immense. “I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery”( 137).

 

Victor Frankenstein’s inhumane and sadistic treatment of the poor Creature was lost through his arrogance. “For this purpose I will preserve my life; to execute this dear revenge will I again behold the sun and tread the green herbage of earth, which otherwise should banish from my eyes forever” ( 211).Victor actually felt anger towards the Creature and blamed his cold-blooded behavior on the Creature himself. Imagine if you will the Creature being created, conscience during the process, awake but unable to move. Tetrodotoxin in Pufferfish does exactly the same thing, it leads to paralysis, where you are locked in, feeling everything, but unable to move. The Pufferfish does not mean to be merciless or sadistic, it is a simple creature that just wanted to swim around in the water undisturbed by man. The Creature feels the same, but eventually he loses hope “But it is true that I am wrench. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless” (231). The Puffer fish is said to be aromatic and have a subtle earthy flavor. Victor Frankenstein simply could not resist the dangerous temptation of creation, “I allowed myself to be governed by the impulses of the moment.” (157). Victor gave in to his impulse to create the creature. The decision will cost many lives because as the Creature said “Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful.”( 173). And just like the Creature the Puffer fish, as he is being carved alive, literally has nothing left to lose, and he is powerful.