The Importance Of Friendship In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Can friendship be a curative force for an individual living with depression and anxiety? This seems to be the case showcased in chapters five through six of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. After months of arduous and incessant labor, Victor has finally completed his creation. But in the process, his entire way of being had changed due to his profound immersion in the sciences. He had scarcely written his family and he seldom left his apartment. His once cheerful demeanor was gone and only his work occupied space in his life. After finally infusing life to his creation, its awful appearance horrified Victor. Victor left his apartment because his anxiety had overcome him; he even felt he was being persecuted by his creation. He had reached his lowest point in his life, up until then, and by chance he met with his lifelong best friend, Henry Clerval, who had just moved into town. His presence was a curative factor for Victor and this will be shown further on.

Victor Frankenstein was highly loyal to his friends and family. Before coming to Ingolstadt, his life only

encompassed his relationship with is family: “My life had hitherto been remarkable secluded and domestic, (…) I loved my brothers, Elizabeth, and Clerval; these were old familiar faces”. His relationship with Henry Clerval embodied what was a true friendship. As soon as Henry met with Victor, he immediately felt relief from his worries: “Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval. (…) I felt suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and serene joy”. After suffering his nervous breakdown, Clerval nurses Victor for the next several months. During those months, Henry never questioned Victor about what had happened to him which made Victor suffer during those months. “I thanked my friend from my heart, but I did not speak. I saw plainly that he was surprised, but he never attempted to draw my secret from me; and although I loved him (…) I feared the detail to another would only impress more deeply”. There was an unspoken understanding between them that Victor didn’t want to speak of his problems and so Henry never asked. This shows how strong their friendship was, although they had not seen each other in six years, they still had a wonderful bond with each other and could understand each other without having to explain themselves.
Henry and Frankenstein were very different people.

Clerval hated science and was more attached to literature. During his months of recovery, Henry influenced Victor to forget about his scientific studies and instead study literature, which had a positive effect on Victor’s recovery. Also, Henry’s cheerfulness countered Victor’s newfound moroseness. Shelley utilized the seasons as a way of describing Victor and Henry’s friendship. Shelley described Victor as a cold person when he is immersed in his studies, and referred to Henry as being able to “warm” him up: “Excellent friend! A selfish pursuit had cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection warmed and opened my senses”. Victor can be seen as winter and Henry can be seen as summer; opposite seasons that complement each other well. Henry was Victor’s “summer” which brought him out of his never-ending

“winter”.
In conclusion, Henry Clerval’s friendship with Victor Frankenstein had an important role in Victor’s recovery. In general, friendship will have a positive effect on someone. Especially if the person has known you since you were little.