Human Relationships In Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, is one of the most important and popular novels in the Romantic genre to this day. The novel was originally controversial because it touched on many fragile subjects such as the human anatomy and the development of science. The structure of Frankenstein begins as an epistolary, narrative story told by Robert Walton to his sister in England. Walton’s letters tell us that he is exploring, searching for what lies beyond the North Pole, and he eventually connects with Frankenstein. Shelley creates the protagonist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who has a fascination with life and death. Gensis states; “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” Humans, therefore, were created as a likeness

Through his scientific studies and experiments, Frankenstein decides to attempt to restore a lifeless body to animation. He succeeds in this, but once he brings the body to life he looks into the eyes of his creation and immediately deems the creature a monster. The monster initially has childlike characteristics, and wants to be loved by his creator. However, Frankenstein does not see this and his judgement is clouded by the appearance of his creation. Frankenstein addresses the importance of human relationships in people 's lives through the development of Frankenstein and the Monster. Like a mother, Victor brings a new life into the world, technically making him the father of this creature whose appearance scares him away from showing any needed paternal affection. When a child is growing up, they are in desperate need for the emotional attention and nurturing experienced in maternal reverie, and the monster seeks for that attention from Victor. Despite psychoanalytic suggestions of the mother as the dominant force in child development, the Monster needed

Both characters seem to strongly despise one another yet they both also despise themselves for their wrong and disastrous actions. The vivid similarities between these characters is driven by their isolation from paternal figures and society. In pursuit of his scientific studies, Victor admits that he “seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit" (Shelley 38). Not only are the two characters both subjugated from society through their own personal choice, but they also share interest in the mysteries of the natural world. They both admire nature for its serenity and beauty. For example, when the Monster was exposed to a peaceful natural setting he states: “my [the Monsters] spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil, and the future glided by bright rays of hope and anticipations of joy” (Shelley 101). Another common interest between these two seemingly contradicting characters is their strong love of knowledge. Although their love for knowledge is obvious, their inability to control their obsession with it often results in something negative. Victor becomes obsessed with science and studying life. His obsession leads to the creation of the Monster, his biggest mistake. On the other hand, the Monster becomes obsessed with humans.