Theme Of Romanticism In Frankenstein

How is Frankenstein presented to the reader?

Mary Shelley initially introduces us to the character of Victor Frankenstein through the voice of Robert Walton in her epistolary structuring. Through this alternative voice we receive a contrasting view of Frankenstein compared to the persona that arguably dominates the rest of the novel concerning his character from the reader’s perspective. Walton uses a semantic field of love in relation to Victor’s character, for example he uses the words “sweetness”, “benevolence” and “kindness”. However, through reading the rest of the novel, many readers will see that the opinions set by Walton’s character are not entirely valid and instead would view Frankenstein as selfish and self-conflicting of his troubles.

We often see Frankenstein seeking refuge in travelling when his situation worsens or he feels troubled. During his “two days at Lausanne” he states, “the calm and heavenly scene restored” him and the landscape offers him a sense of hope to continue his “journey towards Geneva”. As previously mentioned, Shelley uses hyperbolic language in the voice of Frankenstein and the use of repeated exclamation marks when describing the scenes around him during his travels show his highly emotive state aided by the beauty of the landscape around him: “Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake!” Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock at my unhappiness?” Additionally, in his dialogue Frankenstein addresses the fact that “the fresh air and bright sun seldom failed to restore… some degree of composure”, which informs readers on the importance and value of nature from his

Shelley’s use of reoccurring pathetic fallacy through the novella such as the “devouring blackness overcast the approaching sunshine” and “a black and comfortless sky” all connote a darkness of feeling. The repeated use of the colour “black” provides the colour connotation of isolation and an emptiness that can exist both in nature and in ones feelings. Shelley’s use of the domestic family setting is used to exaggerate the deliberate voluntary exclusion chosen by Frankenstein’s character as his return home is followed by his fathers questioning on why he chooses to “avoid society”. Through this secondary dialogue we can inference the fact that Frankenstein is an outsider even in his family setting where he should feel the most comforted and welcomed, as he isn’t in the company of strangers who do not understand or know him. Yet this may have purposefully been done by Shelley to establish an idea in the mind of the reader that Frankenstein feels himself that he isn’t even understood by those like his family who have known him from his birth. Also, other readers may offer the idea that friends such as Henry Clerval are important characters in the narrative to offer the interpretation that Frankenstein is brought out of isolation through his friendships: “Study had before secluded me from the intercourse of my fellow-creatures, and