More handpicked essays just for you.
Alienation and loneliness in frankenstein
Themes of alienation and isolation in frankenstein
Alienation in books
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley presents the idea that alienation can cause a decline in both mental and physical health. There are many examples of this throughout the novel such as when Victor is working on his creation and bringing him to life, as well as when the monster sees Victor and begins to explain his life, during the making of the female monster, and throughout Victor’s life. Ultimately, both mental and physical health can be directly impacted by alienation. Throughout the novel there are many examples of how alienation impact mental and physical health. Victor alienates himself quite a bit and his health is impacted by it. An example of this is when Victor was finishing the monster and getting ready to bring it to life. “Every …show more content…
night I was oppressed by a slow fever and I became nervous to a most painful degree...”(Shelley, 49). This tells of how Victor, without social interaction, had nothing else to think about other than his creation. This lead to a disturbance in his mental and physical health. Another example of this would be during the same time as the previous example, “... the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my fellow creatures…” (49). This shows that Victor had cut off most outside interaction and had no desire to mingle with other humans. This kept him even more alone and affected his mental health as he began to think he had committed a crime. A third example of this would be when the monster fled Victor’s room at the University. When Victor realized that the monster had left he lost all control, “ I imagined the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down into a fit.” (55). This tells of how, by being the only one to see the creation alive, his mental and physical health was affected by the thought of the monster. A final example of how Victor’s health was affected would be after his hallucination and fit, “This was the commencement of a nervous fever which confined me for several months.” (55). This quote shows how Victor’s mental health directly impacted his physical health. This quote also tells of how Victor was confined for several months which also alienated him. In conclusion, there are many examples of how alienation can cause a decline in both mental and physical health. In the novel Victor is not the only one affected by alienation.
The novel has the monster being affected by mental health issues because of alienation. An example of this would be when the monster approached Victor in the mountains of Chamounix, “All men hate the wretched; now, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond living things!” (95). This quote tells of how the monster is placed alone in the world because no man is not scared of his appearance. Another example would be when the monster is speaking with Victor, “If you comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace, but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be the blood of your remaining friends.” (95). This quote explains how the monster’s mental health was not in the right place as he threatened to kill to prove a point. This quote also shows how the monster’s mental health was affected by having to be alone. A third example would be when the monster was first living in the hovel, “ I lay on my straw, but could not sleep.” (108). This quote shows that while the cottagers are sleeping peacefully the monster can not sleep as he is picturing the end of his loneliness. This quote also shows how the monster’s mental health was changed at the hope that the cottagers would end his alienation. In conclusion, this novel includes more than one character suffering from a decline in health due to
alienation. In the novel there is a time when Victor alienates himself for the benefit of the monster. During the making of the female monster, Victor alienates himself to finish the task assigned by the monster and out of fear of the monster’s threat. An example of this would be during the journey to Scotland where Victor will create the female, “I waited for my letters with feverish impatience; if they were delayed I was miserable and overcome by a thousand fears…”. (165). This quote shows how the monster’s threat changed Victor’s mental health by becoming obsessed with what the monster will do if he does not create a female. Another example would be when Victor is working on the female in the remote area of Scotland, “But now I went to it in cold blood, and my heart often sickened at the work of my hands.” (168). This quote shows that although Victor knows it is wrong, he has to do it or his mental health will deteriorate even further from the loss of his remaining family. In conclusion, Victor alienated himself to protect his family and for the benefit of the monster. There are several times throughout this novel where Victor alienates himself. He spends a lot time by himself at school, with family and friends close by, and when overwhelmed by guilt and grief. An example of this is when Victor is young. During the time when he was first studying natural philosophy he spent a lot of his time studying alone, “I was to a great degree; self-taught with regard to my favourite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness…”. (31). This quote tells of how Victor was left alone, at a young age, to study which changed the way he thought about life. This affects his mental health after because he becomes obsessed with creating life where there is none. Another example would be when Victor is looking to kill the monster, “They were dead, and I lived; their murderer also lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my weary existence.” (209). This quote explains that Victor is left alone with no friends or family, so he will leave everything he has ever known to destroy it. This also shows a change in his mental health as he is now overcome with grief and guilt strong enough to want to kill his creation. Finally, he is the only one chasing the monster, as well as the only one knowing of the monster, “I pursued him; and for many months this has been my task.” (210). This quote shows how Victor, having been the only person knowing about the monster and having his whole family killed by it, becomes obsessed in the creature’s death. In conclusion, there are many times that Victor has spent alone that have altered his health. Ultimately, both mental and physical health can be directly impacted by alienation. There are many examples of this throughout the novel such as when Victor is working on his creation and bringing him to life, as well as when the monster sees Victor and begins to explain his life, during the making of the female monster, and throughout Victor’s life. In the end, Victor spends a lot of his life alienated from everyone and everything of importance.
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the author’s view concerning the role that human connections play is that humans need others in their lives in order to function correctly. As conveyed by Shelley, isolation and separation from any other beings leads to misery. Not having companions around also leads to a lack of the ability to behave constructively. Shelley’s views are conveyed throughout the novel through the decaying well being of certain characters.
Critic Northrop Frye says, “Tragic heroes tower as the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, the great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein greatly exhibits the theme of the consequence of knowledge and irresponsibility among others through its tragic hero, Victor Frankenstein. Northrop Frye’s quote is certainly true when looking at Frankenstein’s situation. Victor is a victim of his divine lightning, and ultimately causes much trouble for himself; however, Victor also serves as the tragic hero in the lives of the monster, his family, and his friends.
Essay 2 Psychoanalysis is the method of psychological therapy originated by Sigmund Freud in which free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of resistance and transference are used to explore repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts (“Psychoanalysis”). This transfers to analyzing writing in order to obtain a meaning behind the text. There are two types of people who read stories and articles. The first type attempts to understand the plot or topic while the second type reads to understand the meaning behind the text. Baldick is the second type who analyzes everything.
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.
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are many themes present. One prominent and reoccurring theme in the novel is isolation and the effect it has on the characters. Through the thoughts and feelings of both Victor and his monster, Frankenstein reveals the negative effects of isolation from society. The negative effects that Victor faces are becoming obsessed with building a monster and becoming sick. The monster faces effects such as confusion about life and his identity, wanting companionship, and wanting to seek revenge on Victor. Victor and the monster are both negatively affected by the isolation they face.
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.
Both Victor and the monster suffer tremendously both physically and emotionally throughout their life. Victor’s physical suffering was brought on by his inability to cope with his tremendous guilt and secret. The monsters physical suffering was due to the abuse inflicted upon him by society’s fear of him. Both also suffered emotionally; they were both alone, Victor due to his secret that caused isolation and his inability to admit and disclose what he had done. The monster suffered emotionally because of his creator’s rejection and society’s inability to get past his grotesque looks and accept him for who he was.
Isolation is often a result of choosing to seek refuge in solitude, however, in many cases, it is a result of brutality from the surrounding environment. In Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, a gruesome and painful story serves as a cautionary tale in order to prevent another from a similar downfall. Although Victor Frankenstein is the narrator for the majority of the novel, the audience learns of the destruction that has followed his decisions as well as the forced estrangement upon those he has encountered. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses relatable characters that reflect the harsh superficial aspects of society. Victor’s initial isolation as a child foreshadows the motif of detachment that occurs throughout the novel.
Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of this intriguing story, tends to fall ill subsequently with every traumatic event that occurs within the story. In other ways, this “illness” can be elucidated as an additional way to overlook into the mindset and personality of Victor Frankenstein. Is Victor truly, undeniably sick or could his “illnesses” be just manifestations of a particularly guilty mindset? Victor’s multiple tensions and guilts somehow lead to his “illnesses” and cause separation from civilization. Victor undergoes an array of traumatic cataclysms, all emanating from the aftermath of his creation. In a way, falling “ill” acts as his coping mechanism for all of this stress. This is his essential way of escaping society and his many debacles. Victor feels as if his physical disengagement from his aggravation somehow eases his guilt, along with his responsibility. His illnesses reside from a personal and societal guilt that he puts on himself. Victor Frankenstein tends to fall ill when he creates the monster, when Clerval is murdered, and when Elizabeth is murdered after the wedding; therefore, a recurring illness tends to be his means of escape from reality.
The abnormal behavior of Victor Frankenstein simply could not be explained by anyone. He was obsessed with building his monster, no matter what the morality or the outcome of his actions were. Consequences wreaked havoc on the creator when the monster turned on him and took his anger out on Victor’s family. He was so focused on building his perfection that he overlooked some factors. After further research, it is concluded that Victor suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder during the creation of his monster, which resulted in a rigid following of the ethics and morals of science and technology.
Victor mental health is fluid throughout the novel and there are many times when you question mental sanity. There are many cases throughout the novel where Shelley reveals his unstable mental health. Shelley gives the readers a window to look through mental illness during the romantic period. Victor recognizes that his mental health was affected by the experiment. He discusses with Walton how becoming engrossed in your work can affect your mental health.
In gothic novels tragic figures are symbols of pain to the characters. Victor Frankenstein brings misfortune to his loved ones, which concludes to his overall tragedy. Ironically the monster in this novel is Frankenstein the creator not the creature. He has seven victims including himself and his fall is due to his ambition to be superior.
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.
Mary Shelley in her book Frankenstein addresses numerous themes relevant to the current trends in society during that period. However, the novel has received criticism from numerous authors. This paper discusses Walter Scott’s critical analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in his Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Review of Frankenstein (1818).
Rachna Shah 5th Hour No Man is an Island: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Frankenstein To comprehend a novel as complex as Frankenstein, a framework is necessary. However, this approach often has a reductive effect.