Examples Of Isolation In Frankenstein

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. This flaw was his relentless ambition, displayed in the quote: “[...] I was encouraged to hope my present attempts would at least lay the foundations of future success [...] It was with these feelings that I began the

Justine died. She rested. And I was alive” (114). Slowly, as a result of his not warning the family of the danger of the monster, Frankenstein begins to lose the people closest to him, starting with William and Justine. Therefore, the emotional isolation that started with Clerval earlier in the book begins to manifest itself as the most potent form of physical isolation as his family and friends die at the hands of the monster. Based on the quote, every death takes a serious toll on him, and he knows they occurred because of him not warning his family of his creation (“nothing is more painful than the dead calmness of inaction...”), yet all he does is continue with the secrets. This habit of his is a major character flaw that eventually results in his total isolation, but began with Frankenstein's chosen isolation early