Social Isolation In Frankenstein

Nathan Chang

Ms. Pasquinelli

Brit. Lit. P. 1

March 22, 2016

Gone But Not Forgotten: Social Isolation in Frankenstein

Is closing oneself off and playing sad songs radio on Pandora instead of talking it out after a breakup really that harmful? Typically, after feeling hurt, human nature would lean towards isolation, even at the cost of hurting themselves in the long run. Ingrained human factors are a driving factor in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, where social isolation leaves an individual in despair. This is displayed throughout the monster’s inability to coexist in society and Frankenstein’s attitude towards his studies.

Through the creature’s physical appearance, he is shunned from society leaving him in agony. Jeanne Britton, writer

of the article “Novelistic Sympathy in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"” describes that throughout the novel, there is no sympathetic companionship.

Britton then psychoanalyzes the creature: “The monster’s artificial body creates artificial circumstances that isolate sympathy’s physiological or visual elements which, by their absence, forcing him as well as the novel’s other characters to seek alternatives” (Britton). Frankenstein’s monster, as an “artificial body”, is not a complete being. His lack of understanding others triggers his despair. Britton recognizes this and leads into the fact that Frankenstein subconsciously destroys the lives of the ones he loves. Continuing, the creature feels a lack of belonging from his appearance. Although the creature exhibits hatred towards all humans, he cannot help but to save a drowning girl. Shortly after, a man attacks him: “I rushed from my hiding-place and with extreme labour, from the force of the current, saved her and dragged her to shore… She was senseless, and I endeavoured by every means in my power to restore animation, when I was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a rustic…. When the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at

my body and fired…with increased swiftness, escaped into the wood.” (Shelley 130). Even though the creature “with extreme labour” saves a girl from drowning, he ultimately became punished. Eventually, he sped and “escaped into the wood”. This displays an act of isolation and seclusion because not only did the man have a predetermined opinion that caused him to pull the trigger, but also the creature swiftly ran away and hid. As an act of assistance, he is hurt physically because of his appearance. This situation hurts the creature and psychologically damages him. As an incomplete being, the creature is unable to live in society.
Correspondingly, Victor Frankenstein secluded himself to study eventually resulting in his misery.

A. D. Harvey compares Frankenstein to Caleb Williams and begins by describing Frankenstein’s childhood. He makes an approach: “Though Victor Frankenstein is made to suggest that he outgrew his early fascination with the theories of Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus…he remains an alchemist, not a chemist” (Harvey 22). Harvey points out that Frankenstein became obsessed with the various “theories” and eventually became involved in alchemy. Not realizing his mistake, he “is made to suggest that he outgrew his early fascination”. This means that he appeared to not study his wishes. Furthermore, after Frankenstein isolated himself to spend his time to create a monster, he experiences physical sorrow. Shortly after studying anatomy, Frankenstein undergoes a process of creating a monster: “Every night [Frankenstein] was oppressed by a slow fever, and [he] became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled [him], and [he] shunned my fellow creatures as if [he] had been guilty of a crime…[he] believed that exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease; and [he] promised myself both of these when my creation should be complete” (Shelley 42). While working on his creation, Frankenstein’s health takes a toll through a “slow fever”. In addition, he “shunned [his] fellow creatures” meaning he disconnected himself from all of his friends in order to

complete his work. His despair eventually comes through his “incipient disease” in which takes longer to heal than expected. Ultimately, Frankenstein even creates a monster following the theories and ideas of famous philosophers. Through this example, it is easily recognizable that Frankenstein’s social isolation caused him to become dismal.
Mary Shelley in Frankenstein demonstrates that one in social isolation is led on the path to anguish. This is revealed through the creature’s separation from society and Frankenstein’s ideas toward education. As Shelley denotes, whether it comes to listening to sad songs after a breakup or to isolate oneself after being shunned, loneliness is the predominant driving force. Yet, the next times there is a breakup, stock up on the tissues and play sad songs radio on Pandora. Banish those last thoughts of despair—after all, tomorrow is a new day.