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The human condition in frankenstein
Psychoanalytical view on frankenstein
The human condition in frankenstein
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Insanity is perceived as to be mentally ill or being extremely foolish or irrational. Insanity can also be developed from being greatly influenced by your emotions. It is not something that you will usually notice yourself to be, but to others, they may envision you as being insane, Many characters in books may seem insane to the readers through the choices they make and the actions executed by them. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the scientist Victor Frankenstein is distinguished as being insane. He was not born insane, it was until after he made some choices that would change him. In the novel Frankenstein, insanity was caused by Victor Frankenstein’s decisions and the guilt resulted from it.
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and the creation of life, that Frankenstein decides to create a monster, but he does not think the consequences through. Creating the monster was such a long process that Frankenstein became “emaciated with confinement” because he claims, “ I had dedicated myself; and the moon gazed on my midnight labors” (p. 32, 33). Frankenstein was so devoted to constructing this monster, that he had spent his days in solitude trying to create life and in doing that, he was not taking proper care of himself. This is significant because solitude can soon lead to insanity, and once he was in the process of constructing the monster, he would not stop until he was finished. While succeeding in producing the monster, Frankenstein realized “ my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety” and carried out himself in when he said “ I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime” (p.34). Frankenstein begins to notice how much the creation of this monster is affecting him mentally through his emotions and physically through his actions. This is important because Frankenstein is starting to feel guilty about giving life to the monster and it affects his interactions with people. Therefore, Frankenstein’s creation is beginning to make Frankenstein feel the effects of his decision of producing a monster to create life and its beginning to make him go insane. When Frankenstein is successful in creating his monster, he starts to become paranoid about the decision he makes in creating the monster. Frankenstein starts to regret making the monster, he starts to get so nervous that he feels his “pulse beat so quickly and hardly that i felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness” (p. 36). Even though Frankenstein is exaggerating on what he’s experiencing, he feels as if that’s really happening to him. This is important because it represents how Frankenstein’s decision to construct the monster is making him feel miserable and he is regretting it. Frankenstein feels disgusted by his creation, so he abandons the monster and begins to become so paranoid that he “imagines that the monster is seizing him” and assumes that the monster is always following him and killing his family “Nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child” (p. 38, 50). Frankenstein doesn't want anything to do with the monster anymore and suspects that after deserting the monster, that it will come after him out of anger. This is significant because of Frankenstein’s decision to leave the monster caused the it to kill William, the child, which led to Frankenstein to feeling guilty because it was his creation that caused William’s death and he feels responsible for his monster’s actions. Therefore, through Frankenstein’s decision to abandon his creation causes Frankenstein to go insane thinking that the monster is going to come after him after he killed William. Frankenstein’s decision to not respect the deal he made with the monster causes Frankenstein to become guiltier.
Frankenstein agreed to the monster’s proposal to make him a female companion “ I consent to to your demand, on your solemn oath to quit Europe forever, and every other place in the neighborhood of man, as soon as I shall deliver into your hands a female who will accompany you in your exile” (p. 107). Frankenstein only agreed to create a female companion for the monster so, it would leave Frankenstein alone. This is important because if Frankenstein comply with the monster’s terms, something bad will happen to Frankenstein or the ones he cares about. Frankenstein wasn't sure if he wanted to go through with it because he “ feared the effects of the daemon’s disappointment”, but he made a decision to break the promise he made with the monster, and that caused for his dear Elizabeth to die, “She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair” (p. 118, 142). Frankenstein chose to violate the agreement he had with the monster, and caused Elizabeth’s death . This is significant because if Frankenstein had accomplished his side of the deal, the monster would have left him alone and Frankenstein would've been living a happy life with Elizabeth without having to be bothered with the monster, and now Elizabeth’s death will cause him to go into depression because her death was his fault. Therefore, through Frankenstein’s faulty choices, and causing the deaths of those he cares about, Frankenstein’s goes insane from all the poor decisions he
makes. Frankenstein is a smart character because he is able to create life, in the unconventional way, but he didn't always make the right decisions. Many of the decisions Frankenstein made were the causes of his insanity. Frankenstein was so engrossed in the thought of creating life, that he didn't realize what it was doing to him. He was occupied with constructing the monster, that when it was finished, he was so disgusted with what he had done, so he left it. After leaving it, Frankenstein became paranoid that the monster was going to come after him when he saw the inhuman things that were happening. When Frankenstein realized that it was the monster that caused the deaths, he became overwhelmed with guilt. When the monster comes and confronts Frankenstein, it makes a deal with him. The monster promised that if Frankenstein makes a female for it, then it would leave Frankenstein alone. Frankenstein agreed to the promise at first but then he broke his promise when he threw away the female companion for the monster. The monster found Frankenstein and told him that it will come after Frankenstein on his wedding night. The monster kept true to his word and killed Elizabeth because it knew it would leave Frankenstein into depression. The depression that Frankenstein fell into made him go insane. Through Frankenstein’s own decisions he made and the guilt that resulted from it was the cause of Frankenstein’s insanity.
When Victor Frankenstein breaks his promise to the monster, it threatens him by saying that he’ll return on Victors wedding. Victor assumes that it’s his life that’s being threatened but the night of the marriage, Victor finds his Elizabeth. “She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and… running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake.” (Chapter 23) This quote conveys that the monster didn’t feel bad for killing Victor’s bride, he believed that it was a justified murder because he was repaying the heartache that he felt for his lost mate. This act of cruelty helped develop the monsters sense of right and wrong. The monster was born innocent but after being treated so cruelly for so long, his moral compass was corrupted. He felt as if it was his right to do this to this to Victor.
In Volume 1 and 3 of Frankenstein, Victor’s reason for creating the “monster” changes drastically; however, ultimately leading to the same consequence of suffering and depression. Through this change in Victor, Shelley argues that all humans have an instinctive notation of right from wrong and learn from their mistakes. Victor left his friends and family to go to college; when there, he had no friends and social life. His top and only priority was his schoolwork; he read all he can about the sciences, especially chemistry and anatomy. When finished with his studies, Victor is ready to start his creation when he confirms his proceedings aloud, “Winter, spring, and summer, passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves-sights which before always yielded me supreme delight, so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. The leaves of that year had withered before my work drew near to a close; and now every day shewed me more plainly how well I had succeeded.
The repercussions of treating sentient life as monsters or miscreation’s is disastrous. When non-human conscious life is created it is easier to treat these creations as outsiders rather than accepting them. There are two stories that show this clearly. The novel Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly and the film Ex Machina by Alex Garland. When self-conscious life is created it must be treated as such.
During his abandonment, he wanders in the forest and learns social aspects from the DeLacey family. His request to Frankenstein is inspired by the relationship between Felix and Safie. When he saw the passion between them, the monster said that their love, “...expressed joy”(Shelley 83). Therefore, the monster learns that humans, essentially men, need women to eliminate such depressed feelings. When the monster demands a female creature, Frankenstein agrees to his request as he was threatened about the death of Elizabeth Lavenza. However, as he is working on his creation, he considers the possible consequences that this might bring because the monster, “had sworn to quit the neighbourhood…; but the female monster had not; and the female monster, who in all probability to become a thinking and reasoning animal” (Shelley 120). Frankenstein decides to discontinue the female creation which delivers a message that women can have a mind of their own. He believes that the female creature can decide whether or not to be a companion for the monster. If she were to choose not to, she would have the power to do so despite having destruction as a possible outcome.. Therefore, signifying that women have the potential to have agency and make decisions of their
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.
“Allure, Authority, and Psychoanalysis” discusses the unconscious wishes, effects, conflicts, anxieties, and fantasies within “Frankenstein.” The absence of strong female characters in “Frankenstein” suggests the idea of Victor’s desire to create life without the female. This desire possibly stems from Victor’s attempt to compensate for the lack of a penis or, similarly, from the fear of female sexuality. Victor’s strong desire for maternal love is transferred to Elizabeth, the orphan taken into the Frankenstein family. This idea is then reincarnated in the form of a monster which leads to the conclusion that Mary Shelley felt like an abandoned child who is reflected in the rage of the monster.
never love him. Through most of Chapter 17 we see Frankenstein and the Monster arguing over whether Frankenstein will make the Monster a female for the Monster to have as a companion. Frankenstein feels it is wrong to bring another Monster into the world in case it has. devastating effects on the world. The Monster how ever blackmails Frankenstein, saying that he’ll make his life a living hell if he.
...male companion in order to be content and accepted. “I am alone and miserable, man will not associate with me, but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me." This clearly shows the monsters idea of hope. When Frankenstein rips the female creation apart, he’s also ripping the monsters glimmering chance of him experiencing happiness to pieces.
Insanity (legal sense): A person can be declared insane if they are conscious while committing the crime, committing the criminal act voluntarily, and had no intent to inflict harm. A person declared insane lacks rational intent due to a deficit or disorder, which inhibits their rational thinking
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly explores the concept of the body, life, ‘the self’ and most of importantly humanity, which is repeatedly questioned throughout the novel. The definition of humanity is the quality of being humane or in other words someone that can feel or possess compassion. Despite all the facts against the “monster” in “Frankenstein” he is indeed what one would consider being human. Humanity isn’t just about ones physical appearance but also includes intellect and emotion. Some people argue that the “monster” is not a human for he was not a creature that was born from “God” or from a human body. That being said, the “monster” is not only able to speak different languages, he can also show empathy - one of many distinct traits that set humans apart from the animals. Both the “monster” and his creator, Victor, hold anger and feel a sense of suffering throughout the novel. Victor is a good person with good intentions just like most individuals, but makes the mistake of getting swept up into his passion of science and without thinking of the consequences he creates a “monster”. After completing his science project, he attempts to move forward with his life, however his past – i.e., the “monster” continues to follow and someone haunt him. While one shouldn’t fault or place blame on Frankenstein for his mistakes, you also can’t help but feel somewhat sympathetic for the creature. Frankenstein just wants to feel accepted and loved, he can’t help the way he treats people for he’s only mimicking how people have treated him, which in most cases solely based on his appearance. Unlike most of the monsters we are exposed to in films past and present, the character of the “monster” ...
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.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or; The Modern Prometheus, published in 1818, is a product of its time. Written in a world of social, political, scientific and economic upheaval it highlights human desire to uncover the scientific secrets of our universe, yet also confirms the importance of emotions and individual relationships that define us as human, in contrast to the monstrous. Here we question what is meant by the terms ‘human’ and ‘monstrous’ as defined by the novel. Yet to fully understand how Frankenstein defines these terms we must look to the etymology of them. The novel however, defines the terms through its main characters, through the themes of language, nature versus nurture, forbidden knowledge, and the doppelganger motif. Shelley also shows us, in Frankenstein, that although juxtaposing terms, the monstrous being everything human is not, they are also intertwined, in that you can not have one without the other. There is also an overwhelming desire to know the monstrous, if only temporarily and this calls into question the influence the monstrous has on the human definition.
Many people know that Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was part of a family of famed Romantic era writers. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was one of the first leaders of the feminist movement, her father, William Godwin, was a famous social philosopher, and her husband, Percy Shelley, was one of the leading Romantic poets of the time ("Frankenstein: Mary Shelley Biography."). What most people do not know, however, is that Mary Shelley dealt with issues of abandonment her whole life and fear of giving birth (Duncan, Greg. "Frankenstein: The Historical Context."). When she wrote Frankenstein, she revealed her hidden fears and desires through the story of Victor Frankenstein’s creation, putting him symbolically in her place (Murfin, Ross. "Psychoanalytic Criticism and Frankenstein.”). Her purpose, though possibly unconsciously, in writing the novel was to resolve both her feelings of abandonment by her parents, and fears of her own childbirth.
In a world full of humans who cringe at the sight of him. He is lonely and this is beginning to impact the monsters mental state. When Frankenstein abandons the making of the female monster out of worries he will create a race of monsters. This is where we really see the toll taken on the monsters mental state, after he has became intelligent and well mannered beginning to understand and comprehend human behaviour once he sees Frankenstein destroying his companion he kills his best friend and later on his spouse. Showing us the toll it has taken on his mental state it had cause him to actually take people's life to get revenge on Frankenstein as he abandons his promise to the monster. The loneliness he felt caused this and lead to madness after a period of
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).