Isolation In Frankenstein Essay

In the book Frankenstein, by Mery Shelley, we find isolation to be a key factor in both of the main characters whose roles seem to be extremely dynamic because of its effects. Isolation effects the mind emotionally especially when it is because of rejection, it can change a person over time due to the gradual decline of social interactions with others, and contributes to anger, violence, and sometimes death when not carefully looked at, understood, and treated properly.

In chapter 5, as Victor Frankenstein nears the end of his project, Victor begins showing symptoms of long term isolation “for this I had deprived myself of rest and health. 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.” (Shelley 42) showing his exuberantly relevant attitude that he had to accomplish his task even if it meant leaving his own beloved family behind for months on end for one moment of disgust. This affected him greatly, not the fact that he was in disgust, but that he had created life from nothing by himself, isolated from the rest of what he perceived as a distracting and degenerating world. The creature was affected in this instance as well because of the rejection that he experienced exhibited by his own creator, causing an uproar of emotion that leads to the awareness of the creature in chapter 13 “’I looked around (creature) I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, the, a monster, a blot on the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned? ‘” (Shelley 105) this awareness affected the creatures development in such a way that it changed its mental state from a kind-hearted, and curious individual to an enraged, and psychopathic entity set out for revenge.
Chapter 16 begins to reveal the creatures desire for interaction, after he goes on his rampage the creature indicates that ”’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.

My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create.’” (Shelley 129) To victor, in return he will spare victor, and his loved ones lives. This hypothesizes that the monster is now using destruction to get what he wants, the long term isolation and rejection drove the creature into madness, which cost various lives before the end of the novel, and therefore characterizing the effects that it has on the mind. This also builds on the creatures’ desire of interaction with another lifeform that is of his similar character. Victor and his assistant decide that “’If he has no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be his portion…his vices are the children of forced solitude that he abhors, and his virtues will necessarily arise when he lives in communion with an equal.’” (Shelley 132-3) in agreement with the creature. When there seems to be a turning point in the novel, Victor decides to drop the entire experiment , and break his agreement with the creature by throwing “the bride” overboard, on the way back to his beloved Elizabeth, who he decides he wants to marry in the middle of all of this. This shows that the creature was not the only one deprived of love, and human

interaction.
In many instances throughout the novel the creature murders a number of his creators loved ones. Isolation caused this in that he was enraged, angry, and depressed at the world and his creator for the rejection that was pushed against him. The people invoked these feelings inside of the creature, and in an attempt to play his role in the world he made sure that Victor and everyone else knew what they molded him into. The creature lashes out by vocalizing "Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so want only bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery.” (Shelley 16.1) and ends up doing so later on! He also makes his statement of anger and confusion by targeting Victor’s family. He murders three people, and in correlation with those murders two others died from accusation and grief, and later on the creature states “Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, and no kind of property. I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same nature as man. I was more agile than they and could subsist upon coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to my frame; my stature far exceeded theirs. “(Shelley 104) taking a form of pride in his abilities, which fueled the eternal flame, in which the base was isolation.
In today’s society people do not realize the harm that they cause on other people when they reject them, and how it can backlash on others if they do not take responsibility of their actions. Many children drop out of public schools, and take alternative educational routes because of the way not only their peers treat them but how their teachers and authoritative figures treat them , and/or are perceived by that single student. The psychological aspect of this isolation leads to the creation of a sociopath, a psychopath, and various forms of behavioral disorders like ADHD, Bipolar disorder, and the list goes on. There are ways to prevent these things from happening, and if they are not prevented, they can lead to future serial killers, murderers, and in some cases mental institution patients, we could use less of these especially in today’s society where we find another murder case or worse in our mainstream media sources.
Through Mery Shelley’s Frankenstein it is conclusive that Isolation effects the mind emotionally especially when it is because of rejection, it can change a person over time due to the gradual decline of social interactions with others, and contributes to anger, violence, and sometimes death when not carefully looked at, understood, and treated properly. These Problems are effecting our society and effected Victor’s society in ways that people would never understand if it was not for people becoming aware and taking steps to prevent these issues. A wise man once said “People can undergo a sudden change of thinking and loyalties under threat of death or intense social pressure and isolation from friends and family.” Can you remember a time of utter isolation in your life? Imagine that for one moment… now try and imagine that feeling for your entire life. People are going through this all over the planet.