Conformity In Frankenstein Essay

Knowing when to be traditional or act alone is necessary
Humanity has given citizens an idea on how everyone should act, and set so much pressure on people to be that specific way. Due to this idea that everyone must act a certain way, many will not act on their own accord. Much of the time people conform to the way society wants them to be. To be an individual is difficult for many. In Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein there are many times that the characters make the decision on whether to act on their own, or to go with the crowd. Although expressing someone's entity is important, there are times when conforming is a better decision, Frankenstein shows many examples of these verdicts.
At the age of 15, Victor Frankenstein, an aspiring

scientist, saw lightning strike and from that moment he immediately became infatuated with science. Frankenstein became interested in science and how things worked that he indulged himself in schooling and went above and beyond any expectations. Eventually, he became so fascinated with the way the body works that he started to study how the body decays and how to prevent it. That is when he becomes a unique character and creates a monster using corpses to make a giant monster. "It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. 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" (70). However, to come up with this wild scheme to create a monster conforms to the romantic time period due to the imagination it takes to come up with a plan like that. Frankenstein made the decision to follow civilization around him to make him fit in with the everyday person. However, he became his own human by creating a monster beyond any expectations.
Elizabeth was originally born into a poor family.

"Her presence had seemed a blessing to them, but it would be unfair to her to keep her in poverty and want when Providence afforded her such powerful protection. They consulted their village priest, and the inmate of my parents' house - my more than sister- the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations and my pleasures" (43). However, upon seeing Elizabeth, Frankenstein's mother knew she had to do something to help the poor child, therefore making the decision to adopt her. Having been adopted into a family, Elizabeth had to conform to the lifestyle of her new family. Family is very important to Elizabeth, and she shows this when she stands up for Justine in court when no one else would. Family was her number one thing in that situation, and although their original plans were foiled, Elizabeth knew she had to support her sister. "Several witnesses were called who had known her for many years, and they spoke well of her; but fear and hatred of the crime of which they supposed her guilty rendered them timorous and unwilling to come forward. Elizabeth saw even this last resource her excellent dispositions and irreproachable conduct about to fail the accused, when, although violently agitated, she desired permission to address the court" (102). This quote shows that Elizabeth knew that it was for the best that she took a stand against the court, and although it worked against her, Elizabeth tried to be a good

sibling for Justine.
After many years of studying and hard work, Frankenstein tries to bring the dead back to life, and succeeds.

The monster that was created was created to be larger than most men. Frankenstein's monster was the only one to look the way he did, and was very unique in that aspect. However with how large and grotesque the monster was, many people were terrified of it. "His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was a lustrous black and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuries only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same color as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips" (70). Before the monster realizes how different he is, he makes the decision to try to fit in with humans and learn the English language that way he is able to communicate with humans to try and befriend them . " "I expected this reception," said the demon." All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things!" " (121). This was the first thing the monster had ever said to Frankenstein, exhibiting his newfound talent. Without this communication, Frankenstein and the monster never would have had this

conversation.
Throughout the book individuality and conformity are shown, and in life there are times that it is appropriate to conform, and there are times it is appropriate to be an individual. Victor, Elizabeth, and the monster all had those moments in which they used their personality and the communities lifestyles in their favor. Without those moments of being their own person and the traditional lifestyle the world would not be able to operate properly. When working in a group, everyone must be able to conform to each person and to the objective for that certain project. When there is a situation and a friend is down, a person should be an individual and stand up for that person even when standing alone. Many people do not believe this topic is important , however it is important to know when to stand alone and when to do what is accepted.