“I don't even know what I was running for - I guess I just felt like it” (Salinger, J.D.). With this ideal in mind, man’s desire to flee society appears inherent because of his inability to associate with his own kind. Indeed, man’s self-deception advocates alienation so that he feels disconnected, rejected, and out of control. Consequently, scientific breakthroughs, tourism, myth and immersion in nature have led unassuming prey to fall victim to self-deceit in hope of attaining aspiration. This blind self-alienation is seen attacking the victims of Ms. Mary Shelley’s horror novel, Frankenstein, which exhibits characteristics typical of gothic fiction, tragedy and science fiction genres. Undoubtedly, through the incessant and astute use of
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein puts the monster in a predicament that victimizes the monster. Victor creates the monster to be an “ugly wretch”(Shelley 141) therefore causing the monster grief for his entire life. The monster experiences severe loneliness for being an outcast. The monster is the greatest victim in this novel because of his creation, his loneliness, and everyone’s general fear or lack of concern for him.
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s passion for science and knowledge drove him to create a being that he did not understand. After creating what he refers to as “The monster”, in fear for his own life, he ran away. The monster search tirelessly for victor hoping to acquire his creator’s love but after reading his journals about his creation, the creator came to realize that he was not loved, but hated, that he was not wanted but
In the novel Frankenstein, the author Mary Shelley has many important messages pertaining to life. When asked what the most important message is of the novel, I believe the most important message is the effect of loneliness and how it can impact your being. The two main characters in the novel both face loneliness and isolation through their lives. Although the monster, who is created by a man named Victor Frankenstein, is the key character regarding loneliness, his creator also shows his own side of loneliness and how it affected him, his friends and family. Both characters show many differences and similarities in their lives along with their loneliness. The monster was born into loneliness and molded by it, whereas Victor merely adopted
Victor Frankenstein, a complex character created by Mary Shelley, experienced a complete change in attitude and perspective on the scientific world as he knew it. Between the deaths of his close family and friends, to the constant fight for survival as his own creation stalked him, Victor was under straining circumstances that allowed for his evolution as a character. Pre monster, Victor had strong morals and close relationships with his family. His family was his priority. Victor’s dedication to science was always a constant nagging in the back of his mind, but it did not mean more to him than his family dead. During the formation of his creation, he began to block off his family, especially his fiancee, Elizabeth. His dedication to science was his only priority, above food and hygiene. He was driven by the creation of his monster. After creation, his family members were killed off, eliminating any type of relationship he had with them, he rejected all science and moral values.
Frankenstein’s creation was lost in the world with no one who could have understood him . It felt sorrowful and unfulfilled emotions as seen in this quote. Betrayal by Victor leaves a large impact the monster carried, which, turned into a monster full of hate and dissatisfaction. Victor’s creation was not a monster , but new born baby in a grown horrific body that was not to be called his own . It becomes a monster both mentally and physically, who will be feared by all . Victor not giving him the love he needed gets the monster enraged, which leads the monster to cause series of events that affects Victor unforgivably. .
Victor Frankenstein is a brilliant scientist who has mastered everything he has learned from his professors. However, he has never learned how to master his emotions about his creation. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores the relationship between Victor and the monster to show the reader that the dynamic between the two beings happens to be two-faced. On the surface, they are hell-bent on revenge; while deep down they need each other, and more importantly, they need each other's forgiveness.
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.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein examines two phenomena of human nature, scientific curiosity and loneliness; the latter will serve as the focus of this essay. The very manner in which Frankenstein begins, that of the correspondence of an unattached explorer who longs for a companion on his voyage, with no one to write to but his sister, establishes the theme of loneliness immediately.
In this Essay I shall explore the reasons for Victor Frankenstein’s emotional turmoil in chapters 9 and 10 and look at how some events in Mary Shelley’s life mirrors some events in the book. I will also look at a few of the themes running through Frankenstein. Such as religion, parenting, hate, revenge, guilt and compassion.
This need of power led Victor to create what he believed would be a beautiful human being. But he failed to see that combining the most beautiful human features does not necessarily create a beautiful human being. He was inspired by scientists who ...acquired new and almost limitless powers... (Shelley, Frankenstein, P. 47). Victor sought this unlimited power to the extent of taking the role of God. He not only penetrated nature, but also he assumed power of reproduction in a maniacal desire to harness these modes of reproduction in order to become acknowledged, respected, and obeyed as a father. While bringing his creation into the world he was himself alienated from society, and isolated himself from the community. Isolation and parental neglect cause viciousness within man. Because of his upbringing, Victor had no sense of empathy, and therefore could not realize the potential harm he was creating towards himself and his creation. The sole purpose of his project was an attempt to gain power, but instead of power Victor realized that a morally irresponsible scientific development could release a monster that can destroy human civilization.
"We are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves-such a friend ought to be-do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures,” writes the narrator of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein. Without a companion of some sort, people will only suffer more. However, without the supervision of parents, children altogether are greatly affected for the rest of their lives. An innately good and sympathetic creature, Dr. Frankenstein’s monster struggles to survive in the human world. After creating and abandoning his creature, Dr. Frankenstein is the juxtaposition of a monster, portraying humans as shallow, judgmental, and uncaring. The monster simply wants humans to accept him as one of their own. Facing rejection in different forms, he becomes truly monstrous and evil, giving up hope of companionship as a result of his abandonment. Modern case studies of abandoned children report similar ideas. Children who are abandoned do not learn about morality, yet only people with morality are accepted by others as human. Children who are abandoned are frequently not accepted by others as human ultimately.
The choices we make set our path to our destination in life. Victor Frankenstein created a monster to heal his own disease of loneliness, obsession, and suffering. By doing so, he designed a monstrosity that spiraled out of control. He was on a journey of self-fulfillment to finding access to the key of life.
Throughout time man has been isolated from people and places. One prime example of isolation is Adam, "the man [formed] from the dust of the ground [by the Lord God]" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 2.7). After committing the first sin he secludes "from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 3.23). This isolation strips Adam from his protection and wealth the garden provides and also the non-existence of sin. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, is able to relate to the story of Adam and the first sin to help her character, the Creature, associate with Adam. The Creature is able to relate because "[l]ike Adam, [he is] apparently united by no link to any other being in existence"
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.