Another major novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, contains two characters where one chooses to alienate themselves while the other is an outcast who wants to fit in. Frankenstein almost completely cuts ties with his family and his happy life to discover his full potential at school. Frankenstein gets so into his studies that “Two years passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries, which I hoped to make” (41). Victor is so engrossed in creating life that he chooses not to see or talk to his family members. The only time Frankenstein visits his family is when he hears about the death of his brother who is killed by his creation. Frankenstein’s alienation from his family defies …show more content…
society’s view that one should have strong, good relationships with intermediate family members. Although he had a good childhood and great bonds with his family, he begins to lose those relationships the more he focuses on his studies. Through this alienation, Frankenstein achieves a major milestone in his life. Frankenstein leaves his family behind to discover that the was able to do what no one had yet to do, create life. After seeing what Frankenstein had created, he abandons the creature for appearance. The creature tries to make friends but society judges people solely on how they look to decide if they fit in. The creature has a nice conversation with De Lacy before the rest of the cottagers witness the creature. When the other cottagers returns, “ At that instant the cottage door was open, and Felix, Safie, and agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted; and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung: in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick” (114). After hiding for so long, the creature decides that it is time to reveal himself beginning with De Lacy. De Lacey is unable to see and could not judge the creature for his appearance, as the majority of society would have. The creature and De Lacy have a casual conversation. At this point, the creature was content in the thought that he might have befriended a human that accepts him for who he is. When the other three cottagers return home, they discover a hideous monster in their home and automatically assume that the creature is bad. The creature finally realizes that he will never be compatible with humans and is disheartened that he will never have the love he yearns for. The creature’s attempt to fit in with humans fails for he does not meet society’s expectations of the ideal human. Despite all the creatures efforts to try and fit in, society continues to treat him as an outcast.
While the creature is hiding, he discovers a girl who “fell into the rapid stream. I rushed from my hiding-place; and with extreme labour from the force of the current, saved her and dragged her to shore… On seeing me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened towards the deeper parts of the wood. I followed speedily, I hardly knew why; but when the ,am saw e draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired” (120). The creature goes out of his way to save a girl only to get shot he a man who thinks that the creature will harm her. The creature continuously gets rejected by any human he encounters because he does not fit the stereotype of how a normal human should look or what a normal human is capable of. The creature’s appearance is drastically different, but the creature can do so much more than the average human causing him to stand out and be an outcast. In some instances, being an outcast will occur against one’s will because of how vastly different they are. Society stills chooses to alienate him based on appearance despite the creature’s efforts to try and fit
in. Individuals attempt to change themselves to fit into society but through the character’s alienation, they are able to get a better grasp of who they are. In A Doll’s House, Nora’s deceptive way allows her to seem to fit into the normal stereotypical woman when she realizes that she can do all task that Torvald is meant to do. Jane, from Jane Eyre, manages free herself from an abusive family and completely turn her life around into a life that makes her happy. The creature that Victor created in Frankenstein, strives to fit in with humans only to come to the realization that he will never meet society’s expectations. All throughout time, individuals are being alienated from societies and cultures because they do not fit a certain groups description of “perfect.”
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, values of society are clearly expressed. In this particular society and culture, a great value is placed on ideologies of individuals and their contribution to society. In order to highlight these values, Shelley utilizes the character of Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the main character of the novel, and with his alienation, he plays a significant role that reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values of individualism and use in society. This is done through Victor’s actions of self-inflicted isolation.
Being isolated and separated from other people for a prolonged amount of time, can gradually make a person miserable. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is a martyr for Shelley’s view that a lack of human connections leads to misery. Victor being from a highly respected and distinguished
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. They make choices that isolate themselves from everyone else.
When Victor Frankenstein is again separated from his beloved family and friends, this time by their deaths, he feels the pains of isolation.
The novel’s protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, emphasizes the importance of having an identity by exemplifying the dissatisfaction that accompanies contorted character-to-character relations. What makes his relationships particularly perverse however, is Victor himself as a person and family member. Often, male “participants in a moral conflict,” such as Victor, “may invoke ‘justice’ and insist on theoretical objectivity” to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, c...
Throughout Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein pursues, with a passion lacking in other aspects of his life, his individual quest for knowledge and glory. He accepts the friendships and affections given him without reciprocating. The "creature," on the other hand, seems willing to return affections, bringing wood and clearing snow for the DeLaceys and desiring the love of others, but is unable to form human attachments. Neither the creature nor Victor fully understands the complex relationships between people and the expectations and responsibilities that accompany any relationship. The two "monsters" in this book, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, are the only characters without strong family ties; the creature because Frankenstein runs from him, and Victor because he runs from his family.
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 from the result of many unfortunate events. These events caused Victors 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. His ambitions are what isolate him and brought to life a creature whose suffering was unfairly conveyed into his life. The creature is isolated by everyone including his creator. He had no choice, unlike Victor. Finally, as the story starts to change, the creature begins to take control of the situation. It is now Victor being isolated by the creature as a form of revenge. All the events and misfortunes encountered in Frankenstein have been linked to one another as a chain of actions and reactions. Of course the first action and link in the chain is started by Victor Frankenstein.
Three of the main characters in Mary Shelley 's 1818 novel Frankenstein have commonalities that may not be immediately recognized but are significant in terms of theme. Robert Walton, a man who sets out to seek new land, Victor Frankenstein, a man who sets out to create new life, and the Creature, who sets out to become accepted, are all different in their own ways but tragically the same. Though the first use of the word "isolation" did not occur until 1833 (Merriam-Webster), Frankenstein is replete with instances in which the three central characters must confront their alienation from others. Understanding a mariner, a mad man, and a monster may seem like a difficult task to accomplish, yet with Shelley’s use of isolation as a theme it
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, loneliness is a key theme. There comes a point in the novel where Dr. Frankenstein has to make a decision: to either make his creature an equal woman companion or to refuse his protégé and face the dire consequences. At this point, Frankenstein is knowledgeable that his creation is the murderer of his brother (and indirectly caused the execution of his family friend Justine). He sees just exactly the problems that his creation has caused and how much pain his family is suffering from these losses. On the other hand, the monster offers peace and a ceasefire to Frankenstein’s family if he obtains what he most desires.
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme revolves around the internal and external consequences of being isolated from others. Being isolated from the world could result in a character losing his/her mental state and eventually causing harm to themselves or others. Because both Victor Frankenstein and the creature are isolated from family and society, they experienced depression, prejudice, and revenge.
Frankenstein is novel where a single man condemns himself, his family, and creation to complete misery. Family is the first significant theme we are introduced. From the beginning of the novel, Alphonse Frankenstein, shows his loyalty and appreciation to family as he adopts a child that may not be very fortunate. This action becomes very important as the adop...
In Frankenstein, Shelley creates two very complex characters. They embody the moral dilemmas that arise from the corruption and disturbance of the natural order of the world. When Victor Frankenstein is attending school, he becomes infatuated with creating a living being and starts stealing body parts from morgues around the university. After many months of hard work, he finishes one stormy night bringing his creation to life. However, “now that [Victor] had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart” (Chambers). Right after Victor realizes what he has done, he falls into deep depression and must be nursed back to health by his friend. Victor spends the rest of the story facing consequences and moral problems from creating unnatural life. When he realizes that the ‘monster’ has killed his brother, even though no one believes him, he feels responsible for his brother’s murder because he was responsible for the existence of the ‘monster’. Also feeling responsible, Victor...
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, many similarities can be seen between the creature and his creator, Victor Frankenstein. While Victor and the creature are similar, there are a few binary oppositions throughout the book that make them different. The binary oppositions in the novel serve as thematic contrast; and some of the most illustrative oppositions between the two characters are on the focus of family, parenthood, isolation and association with others.
Victor’s loneliness leaves him devoid of purpose and determination, a shell of a human whose essence has been entirely obliterated. Even so, if Victor had not created this unnecessary monster, his family and friends would not have been strangled by his creation. By creating this wretched being, Victor fabricates his own downfall and forces his own seclusion in Frankenstein.
Friendship is one of the most common human desires found all over the world in every different type of people. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this deep-seeded need is explored, especially as it manifests itself in the hearts of three great men. Captain Walden writes to his sister about the loneliness that he is experiencing on his journey at the very start of the book. Then, as the story progresses, a similar want can be found in Victor despite his tightly woven relationship with Henry Clerval. The Creature is constantly denied his lust for companionship demonstrates the horrible consequences of incessant loneliness. His amiable nature combined with his grotesque appearance proves to be a horrific collaboration that serves only in gaining rejection as he is shunned, quite irrationally, over and over again by all living beings. The Creature's suffering could only be abandoned if he were able to encounter an unprejudiced and completely tolerant friend. Shelley masterfully conveys the importance of a kindred spirit and the overall necessity of loyalty between people.