Solude And Companionship Themes In Frankenstein By Shelley And Mary Shelley

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While reading the everlasting works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a well-establish author of the Romantic Period; and Mary Shelley, another well-established author of the Romantic period who was heavily influenced by the works of Coleridge, I began to see constant similarities amongst their themes. I began my work by analyzing the theme of solitude and companionship that take place in the works of Frankenstein, written by Shelley, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written by Coleridge. I continued analyzing the solitude and companionship theme until I noticed the much larger umbrella in which these sub-themes fell under. The themes of hubris, or offending the Gods, and the use of language/storytelling to educate others that we, as humans, should not try to be Godlike or more than human no matter how intelligent we may be; otherwise, it will be our ultimate downfall. A quote I remember hearing
Robert Walton writes, “I am going to unexplored regions to ‘the land of mist and snow’; but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety, or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner’” (Shelley 21). Throughout the letters, not only is Mary Shelley providing foreshadow to the moral of her novel, but with this excerpt and using the rime, the albatross, the Ancient Mariner, and a line from the poem; Shelley is setting up her readers and letting them know that this book will be about otherworldly acts that will haunt its actor for the duration of his life. Much like the Ancient Mariner. Amongst many other similarities, protagonist Victor Frankenstein and the Ancient Mariner mirror each other in a way that makes it seem like the Ancient Mariner’s real name is Victor

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