The Romantic Hero In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

During the 17th century, many gothic elements have presented itself in English literature, such as the romantic hero. According to CliffNotes, the romantic hero is often rejected by societies norms and conventional values. In the novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, the reader experiences this type of character through Dr. Frankenstein, and his modern day creation, the monster. Moreover, many characteristics have shown that these fictional personalities are both similar in many ways. These uncanny resemblances paint a picture to the many literary devices, Mary Shelley uses in her captivating novel. Between these two moving character, the reader is able to experience the darken isolation, inflicted by social class and society. Also,

both romantic heroes are described to share a rivalry, that developed to the theme of revenge. As well, Victor Frankenstein and the Monster developed this urge to learn contemporary subjects such as the nature of philosophies and modern day basic science.
To begin, the characters Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the Monster, have often been secluded and isolated by society.

For Victor, the separation from society started when his interest shifted to field of scientific research and experiments. He was obsessed with life, and wanted to create a being. He often choses the road to ambition and abandons his friends an family, to satisfy his desire. During this time in the novel, society's normed was the study of philosophy. This is clearly shown in this quote by Mary Shelly: “And the same feeling which made me neglect the scenes around me cause to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long time”. (Shelley 33). By this quote, Shelly tries to visualize Victors efforts to slip away from contemporary society, by abandoning his family in a need of time and effort. After the creation of the Monster, victor often loathes in self gratification, until he cannot stop the evil beast he has created. He is often overwhelmed by his melancholy ideas and surroundings such as the eerie setting of Geneva and the icy mountain peeks. After the death of his friends William Frankenstein, Justine Moritz, Henry Clerval and his wife Elizabeth Lavenza caused by the Monster himself, Victor vowed to avenge these lives by hunting the Monster and killing him. He leaves the comforts of Switzerland, to go hide in seclusion in an effort to hunt and kill his creation. Ultimately, finding him aboard the ship of

Robert Walton, and dying of a broken heart. Moreover, the Monster similarly finds himself separated from society and life itself. Often described has some hideous and unwanted creatures, the Monster separates himself from society because of the norms and standards, influence by society. This is clearly depicted in this quote in the novel Frankenstein: “When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned.” (Shelley, 98). By this quote, Mary Shelly compares the looks of beautiful and talented men, to ugly and unwanted individuals that plague society's perfect picture. Often isolated by his looks, and not by his actions, the Monster often weeps and drives himself to do actions, often influenced by oppression. For example, during his hiding stay at the De Lacey family, he was attacked by the tenants of the house seeing he was a hideous creature. This form of humiliation and oppression pushed him to seclude himself into the mountains of Switzerland, in search for his creator. By using this tactic, the Monster was able to thrive in isolation. He often asks Victor for a bride so he can relate and experience love, separating himself from beauty and life itself. By this request, he promised his creator to stop terrorizing the neighbouring country side. To end the idea, it is clearly demonstrated that Victor and the Monster are outcast from society.
To continue, the theme of revenge is often presented between the two main characters, as a form of establishing the protagonist and the antagonist.

In many instances in the novel, revenge is often used as a bonding tool for the Monster, and his creator. This is clearly described when Victor Frankenstein vowed to avenge the death of his brother William: “When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation. I would have made a pilgrimage to the highest peak of the Andes, could I when there have precipitated him to their base.” (Shelley 6). This quote depicts Victor’s frustration over the Monsters actions and decisions. Shelley uses the type of moderate revenge, to depict the foreshadowing effect. During the novel, the readers also experiences the endless hate and revenge, both character share for each other as though, an endless cycle. This is clearly scene after the creation of the Monster, when Victor abandons his creation in search for other modern world discoveries. What is this endless cycle? Firstly, after the death of William, the Monster uses is tactical operations to blame the death on Justine Moritz, as a way to punish the Frankenstein family. After, he kills his long time friend and partner Henry Clerval and Elizabeth Lavenza. Lastly, Victor Frankenstein finds the courage to avenge the deaths of his companions, by hunting the Monster. Ultimately, ending the novel in its only solution, death and abandonment. Many factors

such as hatred and anger help these two find solace in finding their main goal: killing and revenge. The Monster thrives on the thrill of violence and hate. He was abandoned by his only companion, that life can only offer him. He was forced to learn the major realities in the world, such as beauty and social standards, making him a romantic hero. This is clearly depicted when he burns the house of the De Lacey family after being judged by his personal appearance, and not his inner beauty he possessed. In the end, both characters share the similar theme of revenge to find peace with themselves.
Moreover, the Monster and Victor Frankenstein both have an interest on learning new aspects on life. For the Monster, the learning processed started after his creation, in chapter 5. He learns of the basic human emotions and social interaction, which makes him an outcast from society. This is clearly visualized in this quote by Mary Shelley when the Monster learns of life: “I now hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings, which, from what I was, have made me what I am.” (Shelly 78). Notably, the Monster often learns of the humanity studies and the medical field when he steals Victor Frankenstein diary explaining the creation of life. When he learns about the different wars and plagues in human history, he can’t grasp the idea of murder. This is clearly shown in this passage: “I could not conceive how one man could go forth to murder his fellow” (Shelley 90). But as the novel progressed, he sons experiences the emotion of hate and the theme of revenge. During his stay at the De Lacey, the Monsters learns about family values and interaction between each party. He begins starts to developed his own identity, experience emotions such as happiness, love and rage. The reader can compare these events to a regular human beings course through life. But compared to the regular human form, learning starts at different stages in life, such as infancy and adulthood. Thus, he is considered a Romantic humanist. For Victor Frankenstein, learning was the key for success in his family. When he attended the University of Ingolstadt in Germany, philosophy was an important subject for society's development. But as the novel progresses, his interest for this domain fell short, when he finds interest in professor M. Waldman where he develops his passion for the medical field. After four years, he leaves this institute, and discovers the process of animating life, ultimately creating his worst demise. To compare himself to society, he refused to associate himself to the art of philosophy, instead taking the course of health and science. Thus, he can be compared to his romantic creation, the Monster.
To conclude, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly explores two similar characters. By using the themes of seclusion, revenge and education, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the Monster, are both romantic hero’s of the 17th century. They were both rejected and exiled by society's norms. One thing is left to say, Frankenstein has scared a multitude of generation and reigns as the most talked about monster of all time.