Examples Of Alienation In Frankenstein

Frankenstein, one of the greatest works of all time, exhibits several examples of alienation throughout the novel. Frankenstein’s monster fights a losing battle for acceptance in human society, for he “possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property” and is “edued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome” (##), and therefore thinks “[he is] an outcast in the world forever” (##). Based on the creature’s perspective, the reader can assume that, because of his hostile experiences with humans, the creature is coming to the difficult realization that he is merely a barbaric monstrosity in the eyes of society. Despite his desperate attempts to assimilate into human culture, the creature is unable to conform into society because of his

After his “protectors had deported and broken the only link that held [him] to the world” (##), he “looks around” and realises he has “no relation or friend upon earth” (##). This was detrimental to the creature’s declining mental health because the same people who taught and trusted the creature indirectly betrayed him by fleeing from the so called “monster.” Both the creature and reader both know and realize that it was not the creature’s demeanor or personality that drew them away, but his appearance did. This is especially apparent when he was able to make conversation with the old blind man of the De Lacys, but was soon attacked by the rest of the man’s family. Because of his inability to peacefully communicate with humans, his isolation grows to a point where his solitude converts into pure rage, blaming his “accursed” creator for making him so isolated. The De Lacys were almost like a family to him, and their abandonment breed thoughts of rejection and depression, thus contributing to the creature’s alienation for the rest of the book and becomes the catalyst for the creature’s

After the creature’s self-exile from society, he embarks on a quest for revenge against his cold, heartless creator. He exclaims, “Hateful day when I received life’ exclaimed in agony.’ Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned me in disgust” ( ). Although the creature wasn’t born through natural birth, Victor created him with his own hands and means, therefore making him a guardian or ‘father of sorts. Victor is therefore morally obligated to protect and teach the creature, but instead, Victor instantly rejects and is terrified of the creature because of his grotesque appearance and for ethical reasons. With no mother and a father that rejects him, the creature is unable to feel familial love, resulting in great alienation from his creator. After the creature experiences and learns from the world around him, he realizes that Victor was the root of all of his problems, and the fact that Victor was not willing to even help or guide the creature really infuriates the creature. Although Victor’s creation is a monster on the outside, he is still a human being with needs and emotions on the inside. His alienation is therefore not a fault of himself but of