Society Made Monsters Societal isolation is not talked about as much as it should, it creeps into a person’s mind and fills them with apathy towards their fellow man. No quote better emulates this than in Chapter Seventeen of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all of mankind?” The Creature is beseeching Victor Frankenstein to end his loneliness by providing him with a woman like him.
Isolation is the process or fact of being alone. Isolation can be needed at times but is not good all the time. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor began to go crazy with too much isolation, but when around family he wanted to be isolated due to the high stress. An example of this is when Victor felt that he was responsible for two murders and went to wonder in the valley. Isolation is needed because it gives a person time to reflect and gather themselves.
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.
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.
The Effect of Social Isolation in Frankenstein Frankenstein, a novel approximately over two hundred years old, has a pattern of consistent themes regarding mental health and loneliness. Throughout life and in literature, mental health has been stigmatized for centuries, causing uneducated and incorrect definitions of different illnesses to materialize. In the past, mental health wasn’t as recognized as it is today, however, scientists in the twentieth century can now recognize patterns in the information and literature written so long ago. In Frankenstein, it’s been noted that mental illnesses and personality disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression show persistent examples where that can be seen throughout the story. Varying
Mary Shelley's 1831 gothic novel Frankenstein demonstrates the negative impact of isolation through her depiction of its protaganist/antagonist Victor Frankenstein and The Creature, whose isolation is a byproduct of their nature. For Victor, his isolation is self-inflicted because he is unable to share his secrets with even his loved ones. For The Creature, his isolation is caused by who/what he is and his inability to ever be accepted by society. Victor's isolation is, more or less, self-inflicted. In the beginning of the plot, Victor spirits himself away from his loved ones in pursuit of his ambition: conquering nature and creating a new lifeform.
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
His self isolation affects his relationship with both friends and family and his self-perception and attitude towards life. Frankenstein begins to realize what he is doing and quotes, “I, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual please - I was now alone.” Not only Frankenstein, but many others also isolate themselves. People in today’s society isolate themselves for many reasons; including depression, feeling misunderstood, and illness. Whether one purposely self-isolates or not, self-isolation is still an issue found in today’s
In the story Frankenstein, one certain theme that sticks out is isolation. Isolation is portrayed by many characters in many different ways. Victor's feeling of isolation revolved around his studies and the monster. The Monster felt the feeling of isolation from always feeling like an outcast as well as feeling like he is doing something wrong. The character's actions in this story were the main cause of them feeling isolated in the end.
It is quite telling that the most severe punishment in our society other than the death penalty or torture is solitary confinement. Although, isolation is in itself a form of torture, it can drive someone to the brink of insanity. Although published nearly 200 years ago, Mary Shelley clearly understood the potential detrimental effects of isolation, as demonstrated in her famous novel, Frankenstein, where both main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, suffer from and cause isolation for the other. Mary Shelley directs the reader to believe that isolation is the true evil, not the monster, Victor or any emotion inside of them. At the beginning of the novel, Victor is isolated from other people, causing to forget his scientific
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.
By denying both main characters the sensation of domestic affection, or any other kind of social belonging, Mary Shelley highlights the importance thereof. The resulting isolation became the driving force behind both Frankenstein and his creation’s abominable actions which, in turn, shows that trying to avoid isolation and seeking the feeling of social belonging is the primary message of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and of
Mournful once more but this time not only for himself, the Monster shares these words, “The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone.” Gut wrenchingly stated, it is upon these words that Monster reaches complete solitude now that his potential mate and creator have been destroyed. Through the motif of solitude, the Monster has transformed into an
Although he comes with friendly intentions, the Monster is treated violently and with contempt, essentially being forced into his alienation to survive and becoming the “monster” he is already thought of as a result. The Monster’s actions are a response to the treatment he has received from others, everyday villagers and Victor alike. With little known about his origins and no way to explain himself, there is no hope for the Monster to assimilate himself. This is present in other characters of the novel as well, for example, Richard Walton, who has self-alienated in order to gain distinction and knowledge. The Monsters origins and appearance develop these themes of alienation throughout the novel, themes that are further developed by other characters and play an important role in delivering the message of
They ways in which they are affected by this abandonment proves that isolation has grave effects on human interaction and social development. One way that the theme of isolation negatively affecting social development is presented in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is through the character’s separation from their creators. The creature is abandoned by Victor, his creator, as soon as he awakes.
