Unfulfilled Desire In Frankenstein And John Milton's Paradise Lost

Unfulfilled Desire

Unfulfilled desire is a predominant theme that arises throughout Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, and John Milton’s, Paradise Lost.

Starting off with Walton’s letters, it is clear that Walton is damaged psychologically. He commenced on this journey to “a part of the world never visited,” because of a burning desire to believe that he achieved something important in his life (52). During this journey, Walton realized he was situated on a ship occupied by men who he didn’t like, and didn’t like him; and that for a long time he craved a true friend with more experience than him. Yet Walton suffered the neglect of human love and affection. Walton rebels against the norms of society and it doesn’t seem to help him physically, socially, or mentally.

Switching the perspective over to Victor Frankenstein, he talks about his depressing childhood. Victor begins to tell the story of how he became interested in natural philosophy, and what kept him interested. He had a thirst for knowledge, and when his father defiled the book Victor was reading and learning from, it lit a fire within him to do everything

possible to prove his father wrong. Although Victor felt upset by this situation, it pained him more that his father did not teach him why he felt this book was “sad trash” (68). Therefore, Victor felt neglected by his father and maintained an unfulfilled desire for a father that truly cared. Along with this neglect came the feeling that he was “destined for some great enterprise.” Alas, to an outsider, Victor did just that. He created a living being from nothing. However, Victor only viewed his creation as a monster and not as an astounding scientific discovery. One last thing that Victor wanted for numerous years was to see the death of his creation (118). He became aware of the horror that he had created at the exact moment it came to life and tracked Creature down for years. Because neither Creature, nor Victor were real (they were broken parts of Walton’s psyche), only Walton would be able to put Creature to death.
Throughout Victor’s upbringing, he knew he was different. He was a solitary child in which he developed a chronic depression. On various occasions, Victor even felt the desire to kill himself (112). Unlike Werther, Victor did not follow through with these tendencies, but instead desired love from others. Although Victor wanted to be normal, he knew with his repressed sexual feelings for the same gender, would never truly feel accepted. Therefore, Victor felt the need to make his life meaningful and devoted himself to the “creation of a human being” (80). Through this creation, Victor thought his creature would “bless” him and he would then fulfill his need to feel loved.
Also within Walton is the third perspective of Creature. From the minute Creature came to life he knew he was different. People ran away from him and attacked him when he came near. It seems that throughout the novel, none of Creatures’ wants and needs were fulfilled. Creature, like Victor, wanted to fit in and feel accepted by society. Through all the encounters he had with humans, especially the DeLacey’s, never did occur. Creature felt detached from the world and once again like Victor, he wanted love and nurturing from his creator/parent.
Victor and Creature had similar desires that were unfulfilled throughout their span of living within Walton’s mind. Having these longings that were constantly denied drove both Victor and his creation into madness. However, because these two beings were projections from Walton’s mind, the craziness that was within them, was simply the madness that was within Walton.
Satan is one of the first perspectives that John Milton reveals in his novel, Paradise Lost.

As the story goes, Satan begins as the highest angel in Heaven, God’s right hand man. Although so much is expected of him, doubt fills Satan’s mind and he desires more power and equality with God (9). Obviously, this is where his demise began. Satan half fulfills this desire when he becomes the ruler of Hell, but he has various other dreams and wishes for his life. As he views the Garden of Eden, Satan reflects on his journeys, and comes to the realization that he could have continued to be God’s prized being, like Job, and may have had the possibility of being a part of Paradise (86). He longs for this, but drives it out of his mind since “to do aught good never” will be his task (13). It makes him mad with jealousy and fuels his malevolent plots to destroy

man.
Another perspective that Milton discloses is that of God’s wonderful creation, Adam. The second Adam becomes filled with life, he desires knowledge. He wants to know how he was created and how the world came to be (164). Raphael does not deny him of most of this information however, when Adam continues to interrogate Raphael scolds him (185). Another example of Adam’s desires, is the lust he feels for Eve. He confides in Raphael that he is extremely physically attracted to Eve, but knows that he should love her, not lust for her. The desire that is most prominent for Adam is in book eleven when he finds out that him and Eve can no longer remain in Paradise (266). Adam laments and states that he wishes he would have lived in ignorance, but knows that, at least this time, he must obey God’s command (279).