Common Themes In Frankenstein

964 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Frankenstein the monstrous

A theme is the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work which may be stated directly or indirectly. In the Novel Frankenstein a lot of characters are introduced and several themes are developed. One of the main characters, Victor Frankenstein, is introduced and developed by Mary Shelley with many themes. The main themes that accompany this character are: Ambition, Scientific Advancement and Guilt-Regret.
The character of Victor is strictly connected to themes of Ambition, Scientific Advancement and Guilt-Regret. In the novel these themes are fully developed first of all the Ambition, or the Obsession and the Scientific Advancement that Victor has towards his work. Also the Guilt-Regret is a theme developed once Victor creates his Creature, feeling guilty for creating something like this.

In Frankenstein, one of the themes that most describes Victor is Ambition. This Ambition in …show more content…

He had to go on the bottom and knew more about it. “Front this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation." (Ch. 4). The reader can see how ambitious Victor was. This Ambition became soon an Obsession, in fact he affirms that it was “his sole occupation”. This is the confirmation that he was so obsessed with his work that he spent all his time, literally, trying to complete his work. This work that he wanted to complete was taking all his time and all his energies. He was really obsessed with it, he was anxious and he could not wait to finish his project. “With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.” (Ch.

Show More
Related

  • Ideas and Warnings in Frankenstein

    2123 Words  | 5 Pages

    abandoned; this made him feel as if he was the only person with out no

    Read More

  • Human Connection In Frankenstein

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    In closing, the theme of Frankenstein is undoubtedly human connection. It was displayed through the relationships between the DeLacey family, Elizabeth and Justine, Henry and Victor, and even Victor and his monster. The monster searches and longs for human connection for the duration of the novel, but only ever finds it within himself. Victor may have given the monster life, but he could never give him what he truly wanted; a

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Monstrosity In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    So, when he created Frankenstein “the monster” he turned out to be this grotesque and unnatural creature which was different from what Victor had imagined. However, at the site of looking at his creation, Victor is now spooked by his appearance and immediately turned off by his own creation. For example, in chapter 5 Victor says, “I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.” (Page 35). Again, we can see Shelley’s use of Gothic elements infused with the monstrous theme. However, this causes Victor to immediately stray away from the monster because he views his creation as repulsive and upsetting. Which marks the first sign of abandonment that Victor places on his creation. This doesn’t do any justice for Victor because now the monster is trying to assert himself into Victor’s life but yet feels more and more neglected from the absence of love that Victor doesn’t want to give in terms of having a relationship with

    Read More

  • Romantic and Enlightenment Ideas in Frankenstein

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his youth Victor spent his time secluded from nature, studying books. Victor spent every hour trying to learning how to "banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death" (Shelley, 26). He was the perfect enlightenment hero, as he pursued education over everything else. He declared to Captain Walton that the:

    Read More

  • The Themes of Good and Evil in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    How are the themes of good and evil explored in Chapters 16 and 17 of

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein’s Isolation

    976 Words  | 2 Pages

    An idea becomes a vision, the vision develops a plan, and this plan becomes an ambition. Unfortunately for Victor Frankenstein, his ambitions and accomplishments drowned him in sorrow as the result of many unfortunate events. These events caused Victor's family and his creation to suffer. Rejection and isolation are two of the most vital themes in which many dreadful consequences derive from. Victor isolates himself from his family, friends, and meant-to-be wife.

    Read More

  • Galvanism In Frankenstein

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    The beginning of Frankenstein’s dream started as a young man, Victor 's interests lie in science, chemistry, and of the balance and contrasts of life and

    Read More

  • Thank You M'am, by Langston Hughes and The Storyteller, by H.H. Munro (Saki)

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Theme is the underlying power beneath a story; the “force” that makes the whole experience worthwhile. Theme is “an idea or message that the writer wishes to convey” (Holt 874). A theme can be either stated or implied. A stated theme is a theme “that the other expresses directly in his work (protic.net); an implied theme is a theme “that is not directly stated in the work” (protic.net). As mentioned before, both of these stories have an implied theme, which now is revealed to mean that the author of the story insinuated it. Themes exist in all stories (verbal or written) and can be long, short, true or false. “Earth people will beat out any other intelligent life-form in any and all competitions” is a theme, but “good always beats evil” is one too. “Once upon a time . . .” stories have themes too, except they are more one-dimensional. For example,...

    Read More

  • Free Essays: The Themes of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1717 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mary Shelley discusses many important themes in her famous novel Frankenstein. She presents these themes through the characters and their actions, and many of them represent occurrences from her own life. Many of the themes present debateable issues, and Shelley's thoughts on them. Three of the most important themes in the novel are birth and creation; alienation; and the family and the domestic affections.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Theme Analysis

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme of the story was isolation. Both internal and external consequences were the cause of being isolated from society. Frankenstein began to feel depressed after the creation of the monster and decided to isolate himself from his friends and family. Frankenstein kept his creation a secret from everyone because he was afraid of the consequences. Ironically, Frankenstein was the main problem for all of his sufferings. He thought that he could keep everyone safe if he were to not tell them about the monster, however, everyone died because he wanted to keep everyone from the truth. The creature also suffered many consequences from being isolated. He wanted to be part of a family, and feel

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein Knowledge Essay

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme in a piece of literature is the main idea or insight on characters. Most pieces of literature do not limit itself to one but many other themes all collected into one. This is just like in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This horrifying story was produced in 1818 and has several themes that she portrays throughout. The theme of dangerous knowledge is unmistakably seen theme in Frankenstein. In Frankenstein we see this theme through three of the main characters, Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton and the creature. We can see how their desire for knowledge can take them places and show them eventually what they are looking for. Sooner or later it will take them to dangerous and unwanted places. The desire for knowledge can eventually lead one to its grave. Victor Frankenstein’s scientific endeavor, Robert Walton’s search for the North Pole, and the creature’s kind heart but scary features creates this theme of dangerous knowledge.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Individualism In Frankenstein

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the year Professor Prudden has been teaching us the idea of the individual and when and how it came about. We have studied The French Revolution, Scientific Revolution, Colonialism, and Reformation, all stressing what made this time period important to the individual. We finished the class reading the novel Frankenstein with does a great job of demonstrating a man or “monster” creaking his own being. We have already determined that an individual is; the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant. Mary Shelley demonstrates individuality through Frankenstein and leads to his internal isolation and loneliness. She shows that uniqueness is the most important aspect of individualism not only through Frankenstein but Victor

    Read More

  • Theme Of Dreams In Frankenstein

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dreams appear several times throughout the novel Frankenstein, but only in chapters narrated by Victor. Examples of this are when he dreams about Elizabeth dying in his arms in chapter five and when he dreams that the creature will come to kill him in chapter 21. Shelly uses these dreams to reveal to the reader what Victor is subconsciously thinking, but is not yet willing to admit.

    Read More

  • Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    476 Words  | 1 Pages

    There are many different opinions on what the theme is in Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein. There is question of whether it was a feminist text or nature versus nurture, and while all themes are present, the largest theme in this novel is Victor’s abandonment of his creature and the cruelty in his actions. Victor leaves this monster he creates all alone with no guidance or friends to help him in his journey to becoming human like. Although the monster may be responsible for his own actions, Victor’s cruelty in abandoning his creation plays a large role in why the monster acts out in ways he did.

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart Theme Essay

    1621 Words  | 4 Pages

    For an abundance of authors, the driving force that aids them in creation of a novel is the theme or number of themes implemented throughout the novel. Often times the author doesn’t consciously identify the theme they’re trying to present. Usually a theme is a concept, principle or belief that is significant to an author. Not only does the theme create the backbone of the story, but it also guides the author by controlling the events that happen in a story, what emotions are dispersed, what are the actions of characters, and what emotions are presented within each environment to engage the readers in many

    Read More

More about Common Themes In Frankenstein

Open Document