The Qualities of a True Friend

Friendship is an everlasting bond that demands love, trust, and making sacrifices. It is a mutual union in which people expect selfless support and motivation from their true friends. The bond can, however, only last if friends are there for each other in good and bad times. Friends do not only help each other in overcoming challenges, but they also bring happiness in one’s life. Friends are an essential ingredient to live a prosperous social life. In the novel Frankenstein Shelley expresses the worth of friendship through Henry Clerval’s self-sacrificing support for Victor. Clerval goes beyond his limits to assist Victor in sickness and difficult times. Although Walton longs for Victor to become his true friend, Victor should be the least desirable friend in anyone’s life. It is better to have an enemy than an insidious friend. Victor does not have the capacity to be a true friend because he alienates himself, he is selfish, and he does not trust anyone, even his family.

Victor Frankenstein is not capable of being a true friend because he desires to live in isolation. He chooses the goal of creating life over his family and the society. He deprives himself of “rest and health” and gives total attention to his scientific studies in Ingolstadt (57). Victor chooses to alienate himself as he sets up his laboratory “in a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house” (52). This isolated laboratory reveals that Victor prefers to be alone. He does not care about his family or Clerval. He cannot be a true friend because he does not maintain any contact with Clerval throughout his studies until he becomes severely sick after creating the monster.

After William’s death, Victor chooses to live in solitude rather than with his...

... middle of paper ...

... never comes to know the truth behind their trip. Victor’s lack of trust forces him to abandon Henry despite being aware that the monster is killing his companions. Thus, Victor is not capable of being a true friend.

Although Victor Frankenstein is a protagonist in Shelley’s novel, he does not have the capacity to be a true friend. The desire to unveil the secret of life transforms him into a lonely person. He prefers to live in isolation rather than with his family. Victor risks the lives of his companions in order to protect himself. He is selfish and filled with self-pity despite being aware of the creature’s circumstances. Unlike a true friend, Victor does not trust Clerval to share his secret. He is dishonest and puts Henry’s life in danger to overcome his own problem. Ultimately, true friends are rare to find, but they are as essential as food in our lives.