Disability In Frankenstein Essay

Mary Shelley's seminal work, Frankenstein, has captivated readers for centuries with its exploration of the boundaries of humanity, scientific ambition, and the consequences of playing god. However, amidst the narrative of Victor Frankenstein and his creation lies a profound exploration of disability and its societal implications. Disability is defined by the World Health Organization as, “The interaction between individuals with a health condition, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and depression, with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support.” (WHO) Through characters like Victor, the creature, and their interactions, Shelley delves into

Concocted from disparate body parts, the creature's appearance is grotesque and non-conforming to societal norms. Shelley imbues the creature with physical disabilities that render him an outcast from the moment of his creation. After successfully creating his creature Victor is disgusted by him giving the description, “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of his muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness, but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost the same color of the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shriveling complexion and straight back lips.” (80) This description not only emphasizes his otherness but also highlights society's Furthermore, the creature's physical disabilities extend beyond his appearance to his bodily functions and sensations. He grapples with his inability to understand and control his own body, leading to feelings of isolation and frustration. His longing for human connection is juxtaposed with his repulsive exterior, creating a vivid commentary on the impact of physical disability on one's sense of self and

Every human encounter with the monster reinforces his outsider status. He is chased away by villagers, shunned by a family who initially accepts him due to his blindness, and ultimately blamed for crimes he did not commit. Society's binary perception of beauty and ugliness translates into a binary perception of good and evil, leaving the creature with no space for compassion or understanding. Moreover, Shelley exposes the hypocrisy of a society that claims to value compassion and empathy, but fails to extend these virtues to those who are different. In their article, Understanding Disabling Barriers: A Fruitful Partnership between Disability Studies and Social Practices, researchers state, “When a person is made to feel as if their impairment is their own fault, as in the earlier quotation, this can be part of the way disability is represented, and may influence feelings and attitudes towards disabled people, as well as disabled people’s own self-concept.”(Williams, V., Tarleton, et