Examples Of Isolation In Frankenstein

It is in solitude man is most isolated, yet it is also in solitude where man is least alone. When man is isolated, there is no one to compare them to, and therefore there is no one for them to differ from. At the same time, being different can allow someone a unique outlook on life, making their isolation one of enlightenment. With this unique perspective, a person can learn things about themselves and others that before were obscured, and using this experience they could become closer with those around them. Being considered different from others can also free one from the pressures of a group identity, and in that way uniqueness itself can be a form of freedom from expectations. Being different can be both a blessing and a curse, but embracing

Therefore, one can only be truly lonely when they are in contrast with other people. Examples of this can be observed throughout fiction, such as in the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. The Monster, the main antagonist of the novel, is Shelley’s depiction of what happens when someone is isolated to the logical extreme. The Monster, like many monsters in both fiction and reality, are isolated from their peers for their differences. Frankenstein’s Monster, for his part, is isolated because he is physically different from other people – he is an amalgam of spare parts that Victor, his creator, stole from graves. This depiction is common to many monsters in fiction because it is relatable to nearly any audience. Most people do not experience this level of isolation, but the plight of The Monster is not foreign to modern humanity. Because even the person most monstrous in visage or action is still human, monsters in fiction can be compelling and sympathetic characters, from the Monster in Frankenstein to the titular Beast of Beauty and the Beast. These fictional beasts often let their isolation consume them, but isolation does not have to end in destruction, nor is it a rare experience. Whether from minor differences in appearance, beliefs, interests, or any number of other variables, everyone is isolated from time to time in life. Being isolated can deprive people of

It is in these lonesome periods of life that one comes to realize what they truly desire, and it is after overcoming these periods that the path to self-actualization begins. Self-actualization, the realization of an individual’s meaning and potential, is the final stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This hierarchy encompasses the basic needs of food and shelter, up to safety, love and belonging, self-esteem, and finally self-actualization. To reach self-actualization, the isolated individual has found others like them and has come to accept themselves, but they have not fully embraced their individuality. From their perspective, their goal was achieved; they were no longer isolated. They had grown and learned about themselves yet managed to find others with whom they belonged. Self-actualization is found by the few who leave this comfort in order to seek further understanding, to reach their potential. It is the understanding that even among like-minded peers, everyone is utterly unique and has their own