ipl-logo

Effects Of Isolation In Frankenstein

652 Words3 Pages

Frankenstein essay Isolation is a sickness that negatively affects people. Literature zooms in on the effects that isolation does to the character. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley creates a character who unwillingly deals with seclusion in nature. Through the pursuit of knowledge, pain of rejection, and the attempts to manipulate belonging, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein exemplifies the madness that occurs in the monster's life in order to demonstrate that isolation breeds fear.
The pursuit of knowledge can lead to accomplishments and discoveries but can also have serious negative consequences. The monster is grieving in isolation, “Fortunately the books were written in the language, the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage… I can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. They produced in me an infinity of new things and feelings, that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection” (Shelley 116). The monster's newfound knowledge of language has only pushed him into an area of utter isolation and loneliness. In his effort to have happiness he did anything to understand the community around him. At the beginning of the …show more content…

Victor had a peaceful sleep knowing he fulfilled his lifelong dream but, “The beauty of the dream vanished, and the breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (43). Victor creates his lifelong accomplishment, but shortly realizes it was a grave mistake. Victor hasn’t even gotten out of his bed, and Victor rejects him. The monster's life starts with initial rejection. The hurt the monster experienced was so immense that he needed an answer to the question, “Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” (119). A creator is supposed to love their creation. When God created Adam he loved and took care of him, unlike Victor who rejected him in

Show More
Related
591 Words | 3 Pages

Frankenstein Essay (Family Relationships & Isolation) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has many different topics and themes inside but focuses on family relationships and isolation throughout the story. The topic of family is shown throughout the full story up until the end with Victor leaving everyone to go find the Creature and kill him. Isolation is also very prominent throughout the book with both The Creature and Victor having parts where they face isolation or isolate themselves for their or someone else’s protection. The Creature had been created in absolute secret with the only soul knowing about its creation was Victor.

Read More
758 Words | 4 Pages

Emotional and physical isolation in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are the most pertinent and prevailing themes throughout the novel. These themes are so important because everything the monster, Victor, and Robert Walton do or feel directly relates to their poignant seclusion. The effects of this terrible burden have progressively damaging results upon the three.

Read More
1458 Words | 6 Pages

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, both of the main characters undergo physical and emotional isolation. This enforced or chosen solitude causes Frankenstein to become over-ambitious and harbor secrets from his family and friends, leading to his demise. In the monster, isolation turns to misery, which causes him to become vengeful against his creator and all the world. Through these examples of total isolation, Shelley shows that when people have no connection to others in the world, their worst characteristics and flaws are brought out. Victor Frankenstein was the first character to show a major flaw while in isolation.

Read More
1464 Words | 6 Pages

In Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein, the author uses many literary elements, such as structure, setting, characterization, and point of view, to create themes within the story. Themes such as loneliness, pushing boundaries, the relationship between the creation and the creator, as well as the contrast between the natural and the unnatural all play important roles in the understanding of the story. The novel follows the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who longs for a friend, as he creates his own companion. As soon as his efforts bring this creature to life, he rejects the creature, leading to fear and uneasiness for both of them. The monster, lonely, as he is the only one of his species and rejected by humankind, asks

Read More
955 Words | 4 Pages

Mary Shelley's 1831 gothic novel Frankenstein demonstrates the negative impact of isolation through her depiction of its protaganist/antagonist Victor Frankenstein and The Creature, whose isolation is a byproduct of their nature. For Victor, his isolation is self-inflicted because he is unable to share his secrets with even his loved ones. For The Creature, his isolation is caused by who/what he is and his inability to ever be accepted by society. Victor's isolation is, more or less, self-inflicted. In the beginning of the plot, Victor spirits himself away from his loved ones in pursuit of his ambition: conquering nature and creating a new lifeform.

Read More
990 Words | 4 Pages

Isolation is something everyone can relate to at some point in their lifetime. Mary Shelley shows this through the monster when he is rejected by Victor because of his unappealing appearance. The societal value of appearance can lead to a person's isolation. The monster's experiences of rejection by society are due to his unappealing appearance. This helps to show that people have a constant need to be accepted.

Read More
1090 Words | 5 Pages

It is quite telling that the most severe punishment in our society other than the death penalty or torture is solitary confinement. Although, isolation is in itself a form of torture, it can drive someone to the brink of insanity. Although published nearly 200 years ago, Mary Shelley clearly understood the potential detrimental effects of isolation, as demonstrated in her famous novel, Frankenstein, where both main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, suffer from and cause isolation for the other. Mary Shelley directs the reader to believe that isolation is the true evil, not the monster, Victor or any emotion inside of them. At the beginning of the novel, Victor is isolated from other people, causing to forget his scientific

Read More
669 Words | 3 Pages

Mary Shelley, in her book, Frankenstein, has a reoccurring theme of isolation, in which she isolates the main character, Victor Frankenstein, from the rest of society in order to create a creature. Likewise, the creature that is created is also isolated from the rest of society as he is rejected from his creator as to his appearance. The theme is present throughout the novel as it reinforces Victor’s downfall from a normal boy to a grown man intrigued with creating life as he slowly becomes a madman that everyone soon fears. Isolation causes a loss of humanity as it affects the mind and body. Isolation from society does not teach social interaction, causes regret about oneself, provides one with negative feelings, and causes regretful actions.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

Isolation is a theme commonly explored in written works as a way to further both characters and story development. The epic Beowulf, the dramatic Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley are no exceptions to these themes. Characters in these tales are twisted and changed by the loneliness they endure, whether it be self-inflicted or caused by others. They all demonstrate the irreversible effects of solitude on the psyche; the most notable being a descent into madness.

Read More
1313 Words | 6 Pages

Although, as the Monster is introduced to society, he encounters prejudice from every individual he confronts. Unable to understand this injustice, the Monster proclaims, "This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and [...], I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound […]. The feelings of kindness and gentleness, which I had entertained but a few moments before, gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth” (Shelley 137).

Read More
987 Words | 4 Pages

By denying both main characters the sensation of domestic affection, or any other kind of social belonging, Mary Shelley highlights the importance thereof. The resulting isolation became the driving force behind both Frankenstein and his creation’s abominable actions which, in turn, shows that trying to avoid isolation and seeking the feeling of social belonging is the primary message of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and of

Read More
731 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel of Mary Shelly, Frankenstein, the character of Victor created a mysterious creature because he was obsessed with bringing death to live. Victor works for many months with the desire to accomplish his dream and discovering the formula of how to bring death to live. Victor puts his whole mind into this process and this causes him to lose his health and become older and slower very fast. After, this process was fulfilled Victor became afraid of the monster and was very anxious that the monster was going to return to him. Victor desolated the creature in where he had to live a life of loneliness and mistakes.

Read More
782 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel Frankenstein,by Mary Shelley, the mysterious and unnatural origins of the character of Frankenstein’s monster are an important element. The Monster, having been created unethically and haphazardly, is at odds throughout the novel, resulting in his alienation from society and prolonged feelings of anger, desertion, and loneliness. Shaping his character, his relationships with other characters, and the meaning of the work as a whole, the Monster’s origins are what define him. The Monster faces rejection and violence every time he attempts to make contact with the new, foreign world he has been thrust into.

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

Isolation and abandonment can cause many different reactions from people. In the words of William A. Sadler Jr., a sociology professor, “We often do not know how to cope. It can make us confused, distraught, depressed, frightened, and even outraged” (Sadler 105). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, several of these effects are presented in Victor Frankenstein and his creation. They both suffer from being isolated from their creator, society, and family units.

Read More
929 Words | 4 Pages

”(Millhauser). This violent rejection is a repetition of Victor’s lack of acceptance for the monster and attention to his family. Victor knows that the monster will never be able to live within society and that his ability to create life is the only hope the monster has of achieving companionship. Victor's own aversion to companionship surfaces as he, “ fails to give him the human companionship, the Eve, the female creature, that he needs to achieve some sort of a normal life.” (Mellor).

Read More

More about Effects Of Isolation In Frankenstein

Related Topics

Open Document