Frankenstein Romanticism Essay

Frankenstein is, in essence, a Romantic novel, one brimming with mainstays of the movement. Interestingly, though, as much as Frankenstein revels in its romanticism, it also readily criticizes it within its own textual framework. That is to say, Frankenstein functions as its own line of inquiry; Victor does not go unquestioned in his romanticism, and in the novel one can see Shelley’s personal version of romanticism, which by some has been dubbed “feminine romanticism.” As Miller notes, romanticism, or masculine romanticism, celebrates the greatness of nature, emotion, imagination, and individualism. In Miller’s words, the romantics: “praised imagination over reason, emotions over logic, and intuition over science”. Feminine romanticism, on

This paper will underline various key elements of romanticism and the approach that the novel takes in their portrayal: the surplus of emotion, heroism and individualism, and the favoring of solitude.

Firstly, a critical part of romanticism is its focus on emotions, or more specifically, intense emotions to which one can completely abandon oneself. Miller argues that individual feelings, in romantic thought, overpower rational thought. (Miller) Many characters juxtaposed with Victor remain somewhat subdued in their emotions. Justine, one of Victor's first victims, as it were, up to her death, seeks respite in her situation; she does not allow her feelings to completely overtake her. Contrastingly, in relation to his feelings over Justine's fate, Victor contemplates his own end; his despair

It is, in essence, self-actualization through performing a kind of ultimate favor to humanity. This passion is present in both Victor and Walton; both understand each other's actions as something altruistic, seeing the pursuit of knowledge or its execution as a good in and of itself. For Walton, it was the goal of the polar expedition, and for Victor, it was the creation of life itself. However, as Victor has found, pursuit can end in nothing but bitter regret; there is no glory to be found in the selfish pursuit of greatness. Victor admits to this not long after creating his greatest achievement: “But now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (Frankenstein) As Özdemir notes, Victor’s failure is the ultimate expression of human failure to conquer nature and outplace God. (Özdemir) Victor is not alone in this assertion, the creature, the greatest failure, similarly finds regret in acquiring knowledge and occasionally wishes to forget the kindness and familial love that he has witnessed. When the creature is no longer blind to the wonders of the world, only then can he feel real pain. The creature pins this pain onto Victor and commits to a destructive life of revenge, one that simultaneously devastates his life along with Victor’s. Miller believes that