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Alienation and loneliness in frankenstein
Themes of alienation and isolation in frankenstein
Alienation in books
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In “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley presents the idea that alienation can cause a decline in both mental and physical health. There are many examples of this throughout the novel such as when Victor is working on his creation and bringing him to life, as well as when the monster sees Victor and begins to explain his life, during the making of the female monster, and throughout Victor’s life. Ultimately, both mental and physical health can be directly impacted by alienation. Throughout the novel there are many examples of how alienation impact mental and physical health. Victor alienates himself quite a bit and his health is impacted by it. An example of this is when Victor was finishing the monster and getting ready to bring it to life. “Every …show more content…
The novel has the monster being affected by mental health issues because of alienation. An example of this would be when the monster approached Victor in the mountains of Chamounix, “All men hate the wretched; now, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond living things!” (95). This quote tells of how the monster is placed alone in the world because no man is not scared of his appearance. Another example would be when the monster is speaking with Victor, “If you comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace, but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be the blood of your remaining friends.” (95). This quote explains how the monster’s mental health was not in the right place as he threatened to kill to prove a point. This quote also shows how the monster’s mental health was affected by having to be alone. A third example would be when the monster was first living in the hovel, “ I lay on my straw, but could not sleep.” (108). This quote shows that while the cottagers are sleeping peacefully the monster can not sleep as he is picturing the end of his loneliness. This quote also shows how the monster’s mental health was changed at the hope that the cottagers would end his alienation. In conclusion, this novel includes more than one character suffering from a decline in health due to
As a response to the Enlightenment movement in 18th century Europe, Romanticism gradually began to undermine the way people thought about human consciousness and nature itself. Appreciation of the natural beauty of the world and pure, human emotion bloomed in Europe as Romanticism’s influence grew ("Topic Page: Romanticism”). Romantics valued Individualism and thought that being close to nature would make them closer to God (Morner and Rausch). People also searched for solace in nature to overcome the adversities and cynicisms that followed the French Revolution ("French Revolution."). Romanticism and Romantic ideals influenced Mary Shelley, and that influence can be seen throughout her novel Frankenstein. The two main characters, Victor Frankenstein
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the author’s view concerning the role that human connections play is that humans need others in their lives in order to function correctly. As conveyed by Shelley, isolation and separation from any other beings leads to misery. Not having companions around also leads to a lack of the ability to behave constructively. Shelley’s views are conveyed throughout the novel through the decaying well being of certain characters.
Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of this intriguing story, tends to fall ill subsequently with every traumatic event that occurs within the story. In other ways, this “illness” can be elucidated as an additional way to overlook into the mindset and personality of Victor Frankenstein. Is Victor truly, undeniably sick or could his “illnesses” be just manifestations of a particularly guilty mindset? Victor’s multiple tensions and guilts somehow lead to his “illnesses” and cause separation from civilization. Victor undergoes an array of traumatic cataclysms, all emanating from the aftermath of his creation. In a way, falling “ill” acts as his coping mechanism for all of this stress. This is his essential way of escaping society and his many debacles. Victor feels as if his physical disengagement from his aggravation somehow eases his guilt, along with his responsibility. His illnesses reside from a personal and societal guilt that he puts on himself. Victor Frankenstein tends to fall ill when he creates the monster, when Clerval is murdered, and when Elizabeth is murdered after the wedding; therefore, a recurring illness tends to be his means of escape from reality.
This point will guide our discussion of first how Frankenstein and the Monster first become segregated from humanity due to seeking knowledge that neither should have in the context of their lives. Then the creation scene will be discussed in detail to show how Frankenstein’s perversion of natural, biologically driven birth adds a dimension to that separation, an incompatibility with human nature, that makes their isolation complete. After which, the final outcome of the man’s and monster’s isolation will be described as an inevitable downfall since they cannot surmount this misalignment because it mires them in personal solitude they cannot overcome themselves, and they cannot reach seek help because their isolation is so complete, i.e., their plight is truly monstrous and irreproachable. The discussion will be concluded by using a wider perspective to explore the true depths of the isolation these unhappy characters feel, and what lessons about our own experiences with loneliness we gain from understanding those
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme revolves around the internal and external consequences of being isolated from others. Being isolated from the world could result in a character losing his/her mental state and eventually causing harm to themselves or others. Because both Victor Frankenstein and the creature are isolated from family and society, they experienced depression, prejudice, and revenge.
Victor isolates himself from the rest of society because of his obsession to create life. During the time he was isolated, Victor became very ill. For Victor, isolation has a very negative effect. The Monster is isolated for two reasons. First, Victor abandons him, which creates an isolation from the Monster's "father". Second, because of the way the monster looks, he is naturally isolated from society.
Victor mental health is fluid throughout the novel and there are many times when you question mental sanity. There are many cases throughout the novel where Shelley reveals his unstable mental health. Shelley gives the readers a window to look through mental illness during the romantic period. Victor recognizes that his mental health was affected by the experiment. He discusses with Walton how becoming engrossed in your work can affect your mental health.
Critic Northrop Frye says, “Tragic heroes tower as the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, the great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein greatly exhibits the theme of the consequence of knowledge and irresponsibility among others through its tragic hero, Victor Frankenstein. Northrop Frye’s quote is certainly true when looking at Frankenstein’s situation. Victor is a victim of his divine lightning, and ultimately causes much trouble for himself; however, Victor also serves as the tragic hero in the lives of the monster, his family, and his friends.
Victor avoids association with his family and many others during the time which he is developing the creature, and solely interacts with professors at his time at Ingolstadt. The theme of association with others goes hand in hand with the theme of isolation, as Victor seems to prefer keeping to himself. Many compare the creature to Victor and the way they are similar, but the creature longs to be apart of society, and to be loved by others, or by a family. The opposition is Victor’s inability to grasp a relationship with those who seek one with him, while the creature is kept from associating with anyone from the outside world due to the way he looks. Shelley ties together the theme of association with others to isolation, and family as many of the people Victor hides from is his family. The importance of associating or communicating with others for Victor is the less likely chance he will fall ill when isolated. Shelley provides many instances, which she places the importance of associating with others on both Victor and the
An idea becomes a vision, the vision develops a plan, and this plan becomes an ambition. Unfortunately for Victor Frankenstein, his ambitions and accomplishments drowned him in sorrow from the result of many unfortunate events. These events caused Victors family and his creation to suffer. Rejection and isolation are two of the most vital themes in which many dreadful consequences derive from. Victor isolates himself from his family, friends, and meant-to-be wife. His ambitions are what isolate him and brought to life a creature whose suffering was unfairly conveyed into his life. The creature is isolated by everyone including his creator. He had no choice, unlike Victor. Finally, as the story starts to change, the creature begins to take control of the situation. It is now Victor being isolated by the creature as a form of revenge. All the events and misfortunes encountered in Frankenstein have been linked to one another as a chain of actions and reactions. Of course the first action and link in the chain is started by Victor Frankenstein.
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are many themes present. One prominent and reoccurring theme in the novel is isolation and the effect it has on the characters. Through the thoughts and feelings of both Victor and his monster, Frankenstein reveals the negative effects of isolation from society. The negative effects that Victor faces are becoming obsessed with building a monster and becoming sick. The monster faces effects such as confusion about life and his identity, wanting companionship, and wanting to seek revenge on Victor. Victor and the monster are both negatively affected by the isolation they face.
Isolation is often a result of choosing to seek refuge in solitude, however, in many cases, it is a result of brutality from a surrounding environment. In Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein,a gruesome and painful story serves as a cautionary tale in order to prevent another from a similar downfall. Although Victor Frankenstein is the narrator for the majority of the novel, the audience learns of the destruction that has followed his decisions as well as the forced estrangement upon those he has encountered. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses relatable characters that reflect the harsh superficial aspects of society.
Essay 2 Psychoanalysis is the method of psychological therapy originated by Sigmund Freud in which free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of resistance and transference are used to explore repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts (“Psychoanalysis”). This transfers to analyzing writing in order to obtain a meaning behind the text. There are two types of people who read stories and articles. The first type attempts to understand the plot or topic while the second type reads to understand the meaning behind the text. Baldick is the second type who analyzes everything.
Rachna Shah 5th Hour No Man is an Island: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Frankenstein To comprehend a novel as complex as Frankenstein, a framework is necessary. However, this approach often has a reductive effect.
Mary Shelley in her book Frankenstein addresses numerous themes relevant to the current trends in society during that period. However, the novel has received criticism from numerous authors. This paper discusses Walter Scott’s critical analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in his Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Review of Frankenstein (1818).