The Power Of Nature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In the novel Frankenstein, the author Mary Shelley shows the everlasting power of nature by limiting the knowledge man can learn about it. Throughout the book there are many times when Victor yearns for nature in order to heal him from the misery and violence in his life. This misery and violence are caused by his determination to learn more about the natural world. The monster Victor creates, due to his loneliness, defies the unwritten rules of nature and exemplifies the supernatural aspect of the novel. Victor’s mood completely shifts when he is around nature and he instantly feels calmer when near it. The interaction between Victor and nature help to exemplify the Gothic traits in the novel.

Shelley shows that defying nature comes with consequences, such as misery and violence. When Victor is thinking of and planning on how to build the

Victor is walking around in Geneva and mourning over his dead brother William. While walking he sees “the murderer of [his] brother (63). The only person to blame for William’s death is Victor. If Victor had never made the creation in the first place, then the murder of his brother would have never happened. After Victor's wedding, he and Elizabeth go to their house. Victor comes back and sees “the corpse of [his] wife”(187). Again, another person is killed due to Frankenstein's creation. Elizabeth's death could have been avoided from not making the creation, and if Victor had created a female creation. Therefore, the grief in his life is caused by him. The creation is brought to life after many long months. Realizing just now “[he] deprive[s] [himself] of rest and health” (43). He has no one to criticize other than himself for being sleep deprived and malnourished. Once again, he is his own worst enemy because everything awful in his life, is his own fault. Furthermore, Victor goes beyond the intended knowledge of man, and makes himself his own worst