Autonomy In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Victor and Manfred share an important similarity: the desire for radical autonomy. Manfred’s development of autonomy is in two strongly definable phases. Manfred’s situation better suits his pursuit of complete autonomy because he does not have a responsibility to those around him. This allows him to be fully independent from obligations. In Frankenstein, Victor continually tries to attain a defiant autonomy, but he is swimming against the current with his desire. Victor is unable to retain a complete independence because of his responsibility to the monster, which grows and transforms into a dependency. The shared drive of being defiant in their independence is a key factor for the outcomes of both stories; the differing outcomes suggest Mary

Victor experiences a development in his autonomy in the reverse order of Manfred’s development. Victor’s desire for true independence begins early in Frankenstein as evidenced by his recount: “[he] had often, when at home, thought it hard to remain during [his] youth cooped up in one place, and longed to enter the world” (Shelley, 74). The theme of independence from his family continues in the two years he studies in Ingolstadt “during which [he] pays no visit to Geneva” (Shelley, 77). Like Manfred, Victor expresses his wish to be considered godlike: “A new species would bless [him] as its source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (Shelley, 80). In Victor’s thirst to be held as a god, he does not realize the responsibility a god would have to its creations; in this way, a god would not truly be autonomous in the sense Victor craves. Victor’s lack of understanding shows as abandons the monster, rushing away in a frenzy (Shelley, 84). Further, Victor becomes ecstatic and manic when he realizes the monster has fled his apartment (Shelley, 86-87). Victor attempts to maintain autonomy, but it collapses when William is murdered. After William’s murder, the responsibility of the monster revives. Victor not only faces his responsibility for the monster but also for the monster’s actions. While Victor

As Manfred did before he attained radical autonomy, Victor seeks solitude in nature and asks spirits to allow him reprieve from his torture (Shelley, 117). The monster appears, addressing the responsibility Victor has attempted to ignore, and enforces the notion that Victor should “do [his] duty towards [him]” (Shelley, 118). The monster verbally recognizes how Victor wishes to be free from his responsibility by saying, “[he] would with satisfied conscience, destroy [his] monster” (Shelley, 119). Victor, in discussion with the monster, seems to realize that this is a responsibility he cannot avoid and that “did [he] not, as his maker, owe him all the portion of happiness that is in [his] power to bestow?” (Shelley, 157). The promise of another creation is one that will do more than resolve his issue of responsibility towards the monster; it will also provide him a reason to extricate himself from his family: “I was delighted at the idea of spending a year or two in a change of scene…” (Shelley, 163). Victor cannot abide by the promise because it holds a more substantial power over him that is not easy to ignore or run away from. Thus, Victor breaks his promise in a most dramatic fashion: “I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and, trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged” (Shelley, 175). While