Isolation and its psychological trauma in Frankenstein
The feeling of being loved and liked is something that most people desire; People tend to look themselves in the mirror that others hold up for them. It’s really hard for one to be confident and accept themselves when others disparage their physical appearance and give them a hard time about how they should look, based- upon what they think looks good. The feelings of loneliness can only be cured when they have someone with whom they share the same physical traits and interests. In the book, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the characters are lost in their own world. They used their talent and imagination to a certain extent, but couldn’t accept the outcome, because their expectations couldn’t exceed their determination. The desire to have a companion is one of the main factors that opens up the door to isolation in Frankenstein. Even though the characters have ambition, the need to have someone by their side creates chaos within the book.
Most of the characters in Frankenstein struggle to find the secret of life, as they are surrounded by both artificial and natural phenomena. This creates a conflict, where they are not Hailu 2 sure which one to accept, or which one gives them happiness. Their eagerness for discovery and exploration makes them different from other people because
He chose to "avoid a crowd and to attach [himself] fervently to a few [schoolmates]" (Shelley 36). Characteristics like isolation can lead to an unhappy future and cause a person to totally remove himself from society. Though "[Frankenstein's] father had wished him 'to seek amusement in society [he] abhorred the face of man.' ... 'I felt that I had no right to share their intercourse,'" he admits (Goldberg 31). From the knowledge of Frankenstein's past the reader is able to understand the character's behavior and how it develops. Through the years Frankenstein has kept to himself, with a few exceptions, and is heavily involved in his studies. These conditions evolve to a more serious state over time. "Now, he reveals only the 'desire to avoid society' and fly 'to solitude, from the society of every creature.' . . . He is 'immersed in solitude,' for he perceives' an insurmountable barrier' between him and his fellow-man" (Draper 3206). This state of seclusion only adds to Frankenstein's deterioration and to the condition of his creation. Frankenstein's creature takes on the characteristics of his creator, just as children do with their parents. Due to the creator's reclusive habits and characteristics the Creature becomes as isolated and lonely as his creator. After being shunned by Frankenstein, the Creature wonders about lonely, "searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger"
Friends will determine the direction and quality of your life. Loneliness is a battle that all people will once face at a certain point in their life; it is how they handle it that determines the outcome of that battle. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein loneliness is the most significant and prevailing theme throughout the entire novel. Shelley takes her readers on a wild journey that shows how loneliness can end in tragedy.
Isolation is the separation from others and/or society whether it be physically or emotionally. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, I believe that a central theme is that the isolation from family and society, especially at a time when one is faced with difficulty, can have a negative effect on a person. The main characters in the story, Victor Frankenstein and the monster, both experience the same suffering of being alone in different ways. The negative consequences are the death of their loved one and eventually the end of their own.
Novels which stand the test of time are perhaps those with the most transcending themes. Mary Shelley first published her novel, Frankenstein, in 1818. Partially shaped by her experiences and her dreams, her work quickly gained recognition. Frankenstein comments on ideas including the effects of isolation and rejection, and the role revenge plays in society, which have remained at the pinnacle of relevance in society since the publication of the novel.
Victor Frankenstein’s personal accounts of loneliness and isolation show the effects involved with making an impulsive and passionate decision. Frankenstein predicts the loneliness he could experience if he were to create the monster as he observes, “When I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate in my joy” (Shelley 13). Frankenstein knows what kind of situation he is putting himself into prior to constructing the monster. He is passionate and carelessly rebellious against his own knowledge and his previous predictions in giving life to the creature. Frankenstein knows there will be “none to participate in [his] joy,” but he acts out of his own passion and desire to be “glowing” which in turn gives him extreme loneliness. This
Isolation is the seperation from others whether it is emotionally or physically. Throughout Frankenstein this became a issue where they tried to destroy each other. Frankenstein creation is the most obvious victim who suffers alienation, but Victor himself suffer isolation, yet the creature suffer from defection of society due to being rejected and not accepted by others. However, isolation led to Victor and the creatures self destruction.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, illustrates an interesting story focusing in on many different themes, but what most readers may miss, is the similarities between Victor Frankenstein and the creature he created. As the story develops, one may pick up on these similarities more and more. This is portrayed through their feelings of isolation, thirst for revenge, their bold attempt to play god, and also their hunger to obtain knowledge. These are all displayed through a series of both the actions and the words of Frankenstein and his creature.
Human are the most social animals in the world. When becoming isolated, it a signal that emotions have been turned amongst ourselves. If not already there, it is normal to feel depressed, lonely, alone. In Mary Shelley's gothic novel, both the monster and Frankenstein are isolated. Frankenstein will not tell anyone about his creation because he has no one to pour his emotions out to. This causes the loss of his family, friends,and lover. Until the end, he tells his experience to the force but was never really believed so his tale is only really heard by Robert Walton, an explorer with ambitions as strong as Victor himself. In Shelley's novel, she characterizes Victor Frankenstein and the monster as being isolated to convey their misery.
Isolation in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, has several themes imbedded in the text. One major theme is of isolation. Many of the characters experience some time of isolation. The decisions and actions of some of these characters are the root cause of their isolation.
Isolation is one the roots of the problems and calamities endured by many characters depicted in the beloved and Dr Frankenstein.
Emotional isolation in Frankenstein is the most pertinent and prevailing theme throughout the novel. This theme is so important because everything the monster does or feels directly relates to his poignant seclusion. The effects of this terrible burden have progressively damaging results upon the monster, and indirectly cause him to act out his frustrations on the innocent. The monster's emotional isolation makes him gradually turn worse and worse until evil fully prevails. This theme perpetuates from Mary Shelley's personal life and problems with her father and husband, which carry on into the work and make it more realistic.(Mellor 32) During the time she was writing this novel, she was experiencing the emotional pangs of her
Rejection is a hard thing to overcome. Rejection and abandonment can happen to newborn babies, children, and adults. Some babies are abandoned due to birth defects; children and adults are bullied and rejected because of the clothes they wear, their hair, face, ethnicity, and body. Some of this rejection can go too far, and can cause the one being bullied to become suicidal, or even homicidal. The theme of rejection is apparent in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. Isolation and abandonment happen to each of the main characters; Victor Frankenstein, the creature, and Robert Walton.
The monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was unable to overcome his primary obstacle of isolation and loneliness, an obstacle that is also very evident in literary works from a wide variety of different time periods, genres and cultures. The lack of a companion resulted in tragedy, therefore, this is proof that we all need people in our lives to help us through hard times. This is very clear in This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel, The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom, Zebra by Chaim Potok, and Simon Birch by John Irving. Friendship is a very important theme in This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel. One of the protagonists, Konrad, gets deathly ill and the only way to save him is to create the “Elixir of Life”.
Alienation and isolation have been apparent in society since the beginning of man. When an individual stumbles outside the realm of social normality they are viewed as degradation to society or a threat to normal society.(“Truthmove” 2012) In the gothic tale of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley frequently displays the many different forms of alienation. Victor Frankenstein and his creation were two of the characters in this book that went through alienation and isolation.
Society is the one thing we can count on to shape the way of viewing others whether it’s by race, gender, class or creed, it causes alienation whether it is self imposed or brought upon them by other people. “I would rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.” -Kurt Cobain. In Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, Shelley explores the idea of alienation through Victor, whom self imposed isolation while creating the creature, The creature whom was isolated because he was different to the rest of society, and Walton whom also self imposed isolation.