Happiness In Frankenstein

Countless individuals believe a job that provides an excess of financial security will yield the most satisfaction; however, that is not always the case. Often, it is jobs that benefit others in society that bring the most joy. Occupations such as personal assistants, nurses, and plumbers are some of the careers that provide the most satisfaction. These jobs have one thing in common; they all involve helping others to benefit society. A career that is used to better society generally creates a happier person. That being said, there are also numerous professions that do not directly involve benefiting society that provide happiness, including marketing and public relation occupations. Mary Shelley, the impressive author of Frankenstein, expresses

Through the description of Justine, Shelley argues that happiness can be found without an impressive title and copious wealth. In a letter to Victor, Elizabeth talks of Justine, who was merely a maid for the family. She writes,

“Justine was a great favourite of your’s; and I recollect you once remarked, that if you were in an ill humour, one glance from Justine could dissipate it, for the same reason that Ariosto gives concerning the beauty of Angelica—she looked so frank-hearted and happy.” (41-42)

Here, Justine is described as “frank-hearted and happy” despite her low position as a servant without any wealth. Because Justine was helping Victor “dissipate” his “ill humour”, human nature provided her with satisfaction. In addition, despite a lack of wealth, providing for the Frankenstein family brings her happiness. Elizabeth tells Victor “one glance from Justine could dissipate” his “ill humour”. Shelley uses this statement to show how this happiness affects not only the individual providing for society, but the people around them as well; which creates an even happier household overall. For survival, humans gain pleasure from assisting others, thus making occupations that provide for society more beneficial and

Together with Victor’s father, she decides that this happiness will be more beneficial to Earnest than the riches and glory he could make as a judge. A farmer is describes as “the least hurtful” and “the most beneficial profession of any”. Specifically, it helps individuals and society as a whole as opposed to a judge, who has to make decisions that always is harmful to at least on person. Since the “more honourable” occupation provides less satisfaction to the employee, Shelley implies that the human desire to help others for survival trumps that of the human nature to crave glory. The responsibility of man to society is more than an obligation, it is an emotional desire that stems from basic survival thousands of years