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Frankenstein Loneliness Essay

880 Words4 Pages

“All By Myself”: Loneliness in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the author expresses her own loneliness through the various characters. Shelley uses these characters to examine the theme of loneliness and the lasting effect it has. By the end of the novel, these characters are left unfulfilled and more alone than at the beginning of the novel. Captain Walton, Victor, and the Monster all face loneliness, but for different reasons; Captain Walton longs for a companion, Victor isolates himself, and the Monster is rejected by society. At the beginning of the novel, Captain Walton writes to his sister, expressing his feelings of loneliness and how he longs for a companion with which to explore. It is evident in these …show more content…

When Victor leaves for University, he dedicates all of his time to science and neglects his friends and family. Victor is used to being “surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure—[he] was now alone” (Shelley 30). By devoting himself fully to his studies, Victor inflicts isolation on himself. As the novel progresses, Victor’s family members and friends are taken from him by the monster. These losses are caused by Victor's own actions, as he created and abandoned the monster. As he is unable to reveal that he is the one who created the monster that ultimately causes the deaths of his friends and family, Victor is also left alone in his thoughts. By keeping silent about the Monster, Victor puts the people he loves at risk. Victor is selfish as he repeatedly “favor[s] his ambition above his friendships and family” ("Frankenstein." 188). Victor does not want to admit to his loved ones that he has created a monster and will not take responsibility for his actions. As a result of his creation, Victor is overtaken by guilt, which makes him feel even more alone. It is clear that Victor's loneliness is a result of his actions throughout the

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