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Frankenstein Betrayal Theme Analysis

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In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the themes of betrayal, loneliness and helplessness all contribute to the meaning of the pain one feels when they can’t find meaning in life. For example, the theme of betrayal can hurt others is present in the novel, “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber.” (Shelley, 35) When someone is betrayed they can feel attacked on an emotional level, since they no longer have a friend with them. Just like how Victor Frankenstein immediately left the monster he created. After being betrayed it can be harder for someone to trust others since they have just been left alone. Accordingly, the concept of loneliness leads …show more content…

The monster found himself lost and on his own in nature without anyone to help him, “I knew, and could distinguish, nothing;” (Shelley, 71) When someone is left with no information about themselves or how to do something they can feel helpless. This is exactly like how Frankenstein gave the monster no help on how to survive in the real world. Once you try to do something multiple times and still are not able to get it right, you begin to feel helpless and inferior to others. This can cause frustration because you feel like everyone understands what is going on around you, but you are clueless of your surroundings. Altogether the monster in Frankenstein feels betrayed by his creator, lonely while he was alone in the woods with no one around him and helpless when he was not able to understand what was going on in the world he was living in. Through the novel the monster was able to gain knowledge about himself because he was forced to fight for his own life while being on his own. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the themes of betrayal, loneliness and helplessness all contribute to the meaning of the pain one feels when they can’t find meaning in

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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.

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Mary Shelley, in the last pages of Frankenstein, expresses that loneliness is the source of anguish. Shelley supports this with the juxtaposition of happiness and despair, biblical allusion, and parallel structure in order to point out that one’s affliction is caused by a lack of compassion and companionship. Shelley’s purpose is to show the result of perpetual loneliness so that she may better point out the necessary requirements of meaningful existence. Shelley first uses the juxtaposition of happiness and despair to show how loneliness causes anguish.

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After successfully creating the monster, Frankenstein is perplexed by what he has created. Due to the monster’s annoyance with Frankenstein, he acts back against Frankenstein mostly due to his lack of parenting and responsibility. Shelley’s novel strongly connects with the act of parenting. It is clear that Victor Frankenstein did not complete his role as a parent. Due to this, it further led the monster to misbehave and feel as if he does not have a purpose in life.

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In Frankenstein and also in Dr Jekyll there is a great deal of secrecy and deception throughout the book. In Frankenstein, Mr. Utterson doesn’t know the truth about the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and he desperately wants to find out. Also, by withholding the scenes of Mr. Hyde’s supposedly crazy revelry, Stevenson allows our imaginations to run to wild and bizarre places. In Dr Jekyll, betrayal in the form of secrecy is one of Victor’s worst flaws. His inability to share his secret about the monster brings the destruction of those he loves.

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Novel Analysis #7 - Frankenstein Disappointment, expressed from various scenes of sorrow, plagues all humans and evades none. For Shelley, Frankenstein embodies disappointment in the eyes of the one he created, the “monster”. Since Frankenstein hardly superseded anyone, the immaculate expectations set by the creature, Shelley criticizes Frankenstein's shortcomings.

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Frankenstein did not take into account the feelings of the creature. Frankenstein wanted to be the first to create the life, but did not think ahead. His initial ambition is to help the people, and perhaps his creation will benefit the humankind, however, he lets his ambition take over, and does not think of what the creature will act like or do. He creates the creature but only to suffer and in return he suffers as well. Frankenstein’s actions to not take care of the creature causes the death of those around him.

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The monster continues by reassuring the creator of his independent intelligence and power over the creature by telling Frankenstein, “This you alone can do”. Here, the creature assumes a role of submissiveness and reliance on Frankenstein. Frankenstein’s monster gains the sympathy of the reader who, despite condemning the murder of innocent people, commiserate with the lonely creature who is in search of an acquaintance, which he will likely never find. The monster also displays power and aggressiveness over Frankenstein; “You are my creator; but I am your master; obey!” The monster wants to desolate Victor’s heart, not by killing him directly,

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Frankenstein conjures up an image of a mindless, green monster running and grunting with its arms straight out! Readers that study Frankenstein by Mary Shelley do find a monster like and frightening creature, but it is definitely not mindless. This creature, created and rejected by victor Frankenstein, teaches himself human language and thereby comes to understand and experience human emotions. The most prominent emotion, which directs the choices he makes, is loneliness, and this has tragic results. Then there is victor Frankenstein who is plagued by the secrets he keeps and therefore leads a joyless life.

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The most shared emotion in Frankenstein is loneliness. Robert, the seafarer, writes in letters to his sister Margret: "You may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend". This feeling of loneliness despite

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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.

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Frankenstein follows his creation to one of the most symbolic places on earth in coalition with his heart, The Arctic. He brings himself to his wit’s end on this search for the monster. However, Frankenstein describes how revenge is his driving force when he says, “many times have I stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plain, and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dare not die, and leave my adversity in being" (219). Frankenstein’s rage filled hunt for his creation comes to an end when he realizes he will not be able to catch the monster.

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The monster on the other hand had known only loneliness from the second he opened his eyes. The monster learns through painful rejection that he will never find companionship because humans are unable to see past his ghastly appearance and in anger tears away one of Frankenstein’s many companions. This begins the spiral of anger and loneliness that leads to the monster killing nearly everyone Frankenstein is close to. This, inadvertently, forces Frankenstein to have the same feelings of anguish and loneliness that he first instigated in the monster. Frankenstein never realises that all the monster wants is a companion, he cannot see his own emotions reflected in his creation.

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Discouraged and discontent, the monster gives up his quest to become acknowledged by humans. Finally, arguably the most important confrontation in the entire novel, Victor Frankenstein and his monster meet face to face and explain the causes of each other's suffering. The monster explains that it is simply his mere knowledge of his own existence that causes him great grief, "I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Critical Analysis About the author Naomi Hetherington is a member of the University of Sheffield, the department of lifelong learning. She is an early researcher in sexuality, religious culture, the 19th-century literature, and gender. She holds a BA in Theology and religious studies, an MA and a Ph.D. in Victorian Literature. She currently teaches four-year pathway literature degree at Sheffield University for students who have already attained foundation degrees. Among the books, she has written the critique of Frankenstein.

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