Examples Of Psyche In Frankenstein

To what extent and in what ways do you agree that Shelley is exploring the dark side of the human psyche in Frankenstein?

Gothic literature refers to the European romantic type of fiction that focused heavily on themes of horror, the supernatural and the human psyche. The time that gothic literature was most prevalent was the 1790’s with authors like Edgar Allen Poe dominating the scene. One such work that belongs to this genre is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The novel originally released on November 21st, 1931, follows the life of Victor Frankenstein as he comes to deal with the consequences of his actions, and obsession. The novel delves into the darker side of the human psyche, while also demonstrating how normally positive traits can

There is a reason that isolation is used in prison for those who do not fall in line. Humans as creatures live to be surrounded by others, and if someone goes long enough without human interaction this will have severe repercussions on their psyche. Victor despite having no reason to isolate himself at the beginning of the novel, he focuses on his studies with no care for his social life or family. He cuts himself off from the world around him and makes rapid progress due to his isolation, however, this rapidly takes a dangerous turn as he begins to grow ill, stating “Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever.” As he wiles away creating the monster, he grows pale, lonely, and obsessed. This isolation leads him to create the monster, the very thing that would destroy his life. It is to be questioned that if perhaps Victor had not isolated himself that the monster may never have been created, and maybe he would have never discovered the secret to creating life. On the other hand, you have the monster who has only just been created and longs for the comfort of his ‘father’, his creator. Yet when he does not get that, he leaves and ends up killing Henry. By this point, Victor has stopped isolating himself so much, and the monster seeks to take away those

Victor and Walton are both shown to be ambitious characters, however, Victor’s ambition destroys him whereas Walton is a character whose ambition did not get to be fully realised, as he pulls back from his journey before it is complete. Walton is a character who despite having grand ambition also knew when to listen to caution and pull back, Victor did not. Victor pushed towards his ambition and that is what bought his ruin. Victor’s ambition led him to become obsessed with the ‘secret of life’ and when he discovers it, brings the monster to life. “My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.” Victor is the creator of his destruction, his ruin. His ambition drives him to create the monster and in doing so destroys his life. Frankenstein demonstrates that ambition is dangerous because it can ruin a person. Victor attempts to justify his ambition with the ambitions of others stating, “If no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquillity of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved; Caesar would have spared his country; America would have been discovered more gradually; and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed.” He compares his ambition with the destruction of civilizations, deeming his ambition to be on the level