Similarities Between Frankenstein And The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

The pulitzer prize winning Carl Clinton Van Doren once said, “The race of man, while sheep in credulity, are wolves for conformity” (Brainyquote.com). The human race hates loneliness, and would rather take the easy path in life. This easy direction is conforming with mankind, and they would rather sulk in the shadows, then make a difference in the world. This has happened since the beginning of time, and has continued to occur. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs second level of importance includes friends and family, which was a large focus of the time period. This facet of life was so important, that Mary Shelley decided to write a Gothic Novel about it, Frankenstein. In this novel, Mary Shelley enrolls the allusions of the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”,

Victor gives the illusion of being mentally insane, when in fact, he is quite intelligent, and he has a lot of information that could give Robert Walton help. But Victor also interested Robert. Although men fear the unknown, they still want to understand and comprehend it. This was precisely the case with Robert and Victor. Also, in the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, the wedding guest was fascinated by the ancient mariner. although the wedding guest told him to, “unhand me, grey-beard loon!” (Coleridge I. 11). At first, the wedding guest thinks the mariner is borderline insane, as he utilizes the word loon. Loon is not associated with an intelligent, sophisticated person, yet always used with a fool. Just like Victor Frankenstein, the ancient mariner gives the illusion of insanity, but also like Victor Frankenstein, as an important tale to tell; one that could save the lives of the wedding guest and Robert Walton. Both feel compelled to tell it, in order to save their respective audiences from future trouble. This completely contradicts the illusion of their dementia, when the reality is, they are very clever and knowledgeable. Victor feels obligated to relieve Robert

In Frankenstein, Victor’s Creation is depressed, due to the fact that he has no friends, and no family. He desires to be like unto man, but has no opportunity to. He compares himself to Adam, from the biblical book of Genesis, as he is, “Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with, and acquire knowledge from, beings of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me” (Shelley 18). The creature wants to be like the rest of humankind so much, but he can’t. He realizes he is more like Satan, the devil of all things, than Adam. When a person, creature, animal, etc., likens himself unto the worst character on Earth, he does not think highly of himself. The creature is in a state of despair. Mary Shelley gives the creature these thoughts to show how important it is that he becomes human. The monster can’t become mankind, which is enough to make him a murderer and have dark thoughts