Examples Of Rejection In Frankenstein

The Destructiveness of Rejection

Frankenstein was a novel written by Mary Shelley in the romantic period. At first glance, the novel appears to be about a mad scientist that regrets his creation of a violent, blood-thirsty humanoid monster. However, the book addresses so much more. Throughout the novel, Mary Shelley depicts a cautionary tale of how rejection and neglect at an early age can lead an individual to alienation. And through their isolation, violence and destructiveness to themselves and others can occur. In a crucial scene, the monster reflects upon the observations he made of a family in the woods. Then, when talking to his creator, Frankenstein, his reflections lead him to yearn for the missing familial bond the two never shared.

When the monster awakes, Frankenstein is instantly horrified by the appearance of the monster and runs out of the house because he believes the monster is trying to kill him. On the contrary, the monster’s hand “stretched out, seemingly to detain” the creator, could be compared to a baby reaching out for their parent, trying to gain a connection with other humans (Shelley 84). However, Victor does not understand what the monster’s intentions could be and instantly abandons him, making him fend for himself without the care of a parent to guide him. These actions initiate the monster’s fear of alienation, which manifests when he approaches the blind father of the cottagers and proclaims, “I am an unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around, and I have no relation or friend upon earth. These amiable people to whom I go have never seen me, and know little of me. I am full of fears; for if I fail there, I am an outcast in the world forever,” with the hope that the cottagers will accept him (147). Because the monster was not cared for by Frankenstein, he tries to learn about familial relationships through the cottagers and desires their acceptance as a

Because the monster didn’t have a guiding figure that accepted him from the beginning of his creation, he was unable to interact with others. The inability to interact and make human connections led him to loneliness and depression, which ultimately turned into a devastating end. In today’s society, the monster could be analogous for queer people, who are not entirely accepted by society as they think and behave differently than what is deemed “normal.” Additionally, some families are not accepting of their children’s identity, which is similar to Frankenstein’s reaction to the monster. This rejection by family members is often detrimental to an individual and can lead to the same feelings and behaviors that the monster experienced, such as depression and violence against themselves and others. Hopefully, by using Shelley’s work as a guide, our modern society can embrace the differences of others and create a more understanding