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Isolation In The Monk And Frankenstein

1499 Words6 Pages

It is clear that alienation and isolation affects the way that characters behave and the choices that they make throughout each of the respective narratives of Ambrosio from The Monk by Matthew Lewis and Victor Frankenstein from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Ambrosio and Frankenstein are the ones to blame for their choice of alienation and isolation which has caused Ambrosio to commit crimes of murder, rape and witchcraft and Frankenstein to utilise dangerous knowledge to create a destructive creature. These choices affect issues such as gender, sexuality and the surface and substance of the protagonist’s characters. Furthermore, their alienation and isolation has caused them to turn into monstrous figures, therefore making poor or ill fated …show more content…

The female devil, Matilda represents the serpent from the biblical story, Adam and Eve as she taunts and tempts Ambrosio sexually into doing the unquestionable. In relation to gender and sexuality, this demonstrates the power of the woman. However, Matilda is the only strong and powerful female as Antonia is innocent and weak when it comes to Ambrosio’s sexual desires towards her. Furthermore, when Ambrosio is first tempted by Matilda, he does not have the support of his fellow Monks. This demonstrates that he has alienated and isolated himself from his fellow Monks. As a result, a gender issue is created within the text. Ambrosio’s alienation and isolation causes him to be gender ambiguous. Within the text, Ambrosio has newly discovered his powerful and masculine sex drive. However, he is also described as being as timid and weak as a woman as he cannot make quick and formative decisions. For example, Ambrosio sends the nun Agnes to the Prioress to be punished as he is too conflicted by her actions to punish her himself. Similarly, Frankenstein deals with gender issues as Frankenstein shows hints of gender ambiguity caused by his isolation and alienation. This is demonstrated when he becomes weak and terrified of his creature, a manifestation of his mind. Though there are not many women central to the action of the text, there is still the issue of passivity in relation to women. For example, Elizabeth is isolated and alienated by Frankenstein, which makes her weak and unprotected. This passivity results in her

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