Mental Illness In Frankenstein Essay

Gothic literature, such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, was written to oppose the romantic literature that was popular during the time it was written. The romantic literature is centered around idealism and perfection in society, whereas gothic literature is focused on what is imperfect and supernatural. In Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, has anything but an ideal life. A series of misguided events lead to the immoral creation of an eight foot tall superhuman that destroys Victor’s family. Through her use of spur of the moment, rage filled actions, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein displays the effects of mental illness on a person’s morality. The cause of these actions and those ensuing include bouts of hysteria, narcissism,

Hysteria is “a ‘nervous disorder’ associated with insanity” (Hobbs). Hysteria can be caused by many things, including terror, alcoholism, and disappointment. Since terror is more significant in Victor’s case, the hysteria is most likely caused by the monster’s reanimation (Hobbs 152). This hysteria can most clearly be seen in a confrontation between Henry Clerval and Victor, “I cried, putting my hands before my eyes, for I thought I saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room” (Shelley 63). The quote is significant because a fit of hysteria would have caused Victor to make a rash decision in running in fear from the monster, henceforth leading to a significant amount of conflict in the story. Also, it can be shown that the life of the

An article that referenced the work of Sigmund Freud says that he ¨mentions as a trait 'a technique for dealing with the external world--'magic'” (Kestner). Victor deals with the world in a way that is different to that of his peers. “My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn” (Shelley 36). This is important because people with mental illness are practically defined as a person with a different coping mechanism for life. While there are many people who can healthily cope with their unique views, Victor cuts apart dead bodies, sews them together, and reanimates an eight foot tall