ipl-logo

Frankenstein Isolation Essay

925 Words4 Pages

Frankenstein: The Damnation of Isolation Saint Mother Teresa once said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty” (brainyquote.com). Being lonely or isolated is nothing to take lightly; loneliness has been proven to increase the risk of heart disease, dementia, and other health problems (Guner), but further, forced solitariness has massive psychological effects. It is not only a desire for most humans to be around others, but even a necessity. This fundamental concept of companionship is present throughout author Mary Shelley’s romantic novel Frankenstein, which tells the tale of a young, educated man named Victor Frankenstein who devotes himself completely to giving an artificial body life, which he does …show more content…

In order to gain companionship, he must create relationships with humans, but he is incapable of doing this as everyone immediately feels aversion to him before he can do anything about it. From this, when the creature finds the De Lacey family, who don’t attack him (although they do not know of his existence), he obsesses over them and their worries become his, unveiling his desire to escape loneliness (Hall). He refers to the family as his “beloved cottagers”, and even goes as far to say that he learned to “admire their virtues and deprecate the vices of mankind” (Shelley 128), showing the positive impact that even minor social connection has on him. Alongside the De Lacey family, the monster is put in a much more peaceful state and even begins to enjoy life, performing generous acts to the family and craving knowledge, supported by his new foundation of …show more content…

Victor figuratively and literally destroys his loved ones through a long and strenuous self-imposed isolation, as not only do they become unimportant to him, but the separation genuinely creates the murderer of his loved ones (Schmid). This seclusion has a negative influence on him, as after being alone for so long he finds himself mentally unstable, saying he had “a nervous fever which confined me for several months” (Shelley 53). Victor is mentally and physically depleted as a result of his isolation, directly contrasting with the emotions of joy and prosperity he felt as a young boy surrounded by his loved ones. Victor’s solitariness has caused him to become disconnected from his sense of community and familiarity (Schmid), and the extremely negative effects of the isolation prove the necessity of companionship in his

Show More
Related
650 Words | 3 Pages

In Frankenstein, Victor is consumed by his ambition to create life that he pays no attention to his personal relationships with his family. Mary Shelley writes, “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation” (35). Victors ambition drove him to isolate himself for two years he pursued his goals to such extremes that he disregarded his own health and relationships.

Read More
1419 Words | 6 Pages

Affected by Isolation: Frankenstein and The Metamorphosis Throughout life many feel as though they have been victims to extreme isolation. Well, while that may be true for many, has it ever affected them mentally? The answer is most likely yes, in fact there are two novels that show this exact feeling.

Read More
632 Words | 3 Pages

Social Isolation in Frankenstein Frankenstein has been a classic thought to every new generation since its creation in 1816. In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, the theme of social isolation is prominent in its characters and the atmosphere. In the book, social isolation is more commonly seen in the monster and in his creator Viktor. To begin, social isolation is displayed through the monster very often throughout the book. It is first seen in the monster as he has been abandoned by his creator and by society itself.

Read More
758 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
1458 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
227 Words | 1 Pages

Isolation and loneliness are pervasive throughout Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." From the beginning, Victor Frankenstein embarks on a solitary journey of scientific discovery, isolated from societal norms and the comfort of companionship. His pursuit of knowledge and creation leads to his alienation from his family, friends, and humanity. An early instance of this is when Victor confided in his cousin, Elizabeth, about his scientific discoveries. However, Elizabeth showed no interest in his pursuits, leaving Victor to isolate himself further (Shelley 23).

Read More
643 Words | 3 Pages

He lives in a hovel observing a family of cottagers for the majority of his short life where he discovers the image of family. The creature attempts to unite with the cottagers, but his plan fails him and he becomes enraged admitting to Victor “I gave vent to my anguish in fearful howlings. I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils, destroying the objects that obstructed me and ranging through the wood with a staglike swiftness. Oh! What a miserable night I passed” (Shelley 146).

Read More
2889 Words | 12 Pages

His strive to fulfill hs loneliness as an outsider is displayed through the acts of kindness, along with the violence, that he commits. The monster’s ambition is rooted in his desire to be a part of human society and be accepted into a community. He attempts to form these human connections. but is unable to do so in all of his attempts. He’s immediately rejected by every individual that he encounters.

Read More
2195 Words | 9 Pages

After observing the De Laceys and learning about their values, the Creature identifies with them, believing that it can be accepted and loved (Shelley 90-91). However, the De Laceys' violent reaction demonstrates that even the kindest of humans are incapable of accepting the Creature due to its appearance, further isolating it from society. This rejection reinforces the creature's belief that it is inherently monstrous and unworthy of love. The creature's longing for companionship is evident when it states, "I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me" (Shelley 147). This repeated societal alienation leads the Creature to embrace the monstrous identity imposed upon it, as evidenced by its vow to take revenge on Frankenstein and humanity: "I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear; and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred" (Shelley 135).

Read More
669 Words | 3 Pages

Mary Shelley, in her book, Frankenstein, has a reoccurring theme of isolation, in which she isolates the main character, Victor Frankenstein, from the rest of society in order to create a creature. Likewise, the creature that is created is also isolated from the rest of society as he is rejected from his creator as to his appearance. The theme is present throughout the novel as it reinforces Victor’s downfall from a normal boy to a grown man intrigued with creating life as he slowly becomes a madman that everyone soon fears. Isolation causes a loss of humanity as it affects the mind and body. Isolation from society does not teach social interaction, causes regret about oneself, provides one with negative feelings, and causes regretful actions.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

Isolation is a theme commonly explored in written works as a way to further both characters and story development. The epic Beowulf, the dramatic Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley are no exceptions to these themes. Characters in these tales are twisted and changed by the loneliness they endure, whether it be self-inflicted or caused by others. They all demonstrate the irreversible effects of solitude on the psyche; the most notable being a descent into madness.

Read More
987 Words | 4 Pages

Frankenstein’s creature initially shows no signs of ill will or malice when first encountering human beings (Shelley 72-73). On the contrary, through careful observation he is able to learn more about human society and personal relationships. He begins to admire the close connection between the people he observes and respects their virtue. This, however, makes him realise what he is missing. Observing the love and affection between others only increases the effect his own solitude has on him.

Read More
1438 Words | 6 Pages

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley says "I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine" (56). Mary Shelley illustrates the monster's experience of both joy and pain in his existence, highlighting the alienation and rejection felt by those who are socially isolated. Literary scholar, Thomas H Schmid, writes in Addiction and Isolation in Frankenstein: A Case of Terminal Uniqueness, “Isolation, as Mary Shelley depicts it, is a kind of death. It is a state in which the self is trapped in a closed system, unable to communicate with anything beyond its boundaries” (Schmid).

Read More
1381 Words | 6 Pages

IB HL Essay Cayni Mohamed Everyone has experienced loneliness in their life. That loneliness could come from many different causes, but the result is the same. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, we see Victor Frankenstein and his creature compared in numerous ways, and they’re opposites of each other. Shelley depicts many different types of loneliness depicted through different characters, specifically Victor Frankenstein and his creature. This raises the line of inquiry of how Mary Shelley depicts different types of loneliness using Victor Frankenstein and the creature as foils of each other.

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

Isolation and abandonment can cause many different reactions from people. In the words of William A. Sadler Jr., a sociology professor, “We often do not know how to cope. It can make us confused, distraught, depressed, frightened, and even outraged” (Sadler 105). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, several of these effects are presented in Victor Frankenstein and his creation. They both suffer from being isolated from their creator, society, and family units.

Read More

More about Frankenstein Isolation Essay

Related Topics

Open Document