Ethan Hoang
Mrs. Spritzer
Honors English 12: Block 3 Odd
3 April 2023
Effects of Parent-Child Relationships in Frankenstein
Throughout adolescence, a child’s relationship with their parents can affect their development.Whether it is a positive or negative impact, the child is bound to be affected in some way. It is imperative that a parent maintains a healthy relationship with their child. Unfortunately, if the child does not receive the proper love and attention, they may suffer from permanent damage. Through the characters in the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley emphasizes the importance of a strong parent-child relationship during a child’s development. Shelley exemplifies the negative effects of an unhealthy parent-child relationship
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Victor is an object of their love, not a participant in it; he is ‘their plaything and their idol’” (Shelley qtd. Claridge).
Because of his father’s love towards his wife, Victor felt abandoned. This allowed Victor to indulge in his scientific studies to an irreversible degree. He decided to leave his family after the death of his mother to further pursue his own ambitions at college. This void in his life caused repercussions. While Victor was studying at Ingolstadt, he discovered a way to create the monster. He created the creature in hopes it would “bless [him] as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to [him]. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as [he] should deserve theirs” (Shelley 44). Due to the way Victor feels about Alphonse, he hopes creating a new person will give him the gratitude of making someone feel loved. It was a feeling that Victor had craved as a kid. He wanted to make someone in this world know
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Alphonse exemplifies how an unhealthy relationship can affect a child. Caroline emphasizes the importance of a healthy parent-child relationship. Lastly, Victor establishes abandonment issues by ditching his creation after bringing it to life. The parent’s influence on the child can greatly affect who they