Isolation can have a large impact on someone's behaviour and actions. Mary Shelley uses this information in ”Frankenstein” to show how being isolated from society can affect someone or something. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” explores themes of isolation throughout the novel and shows what isolation can do to a being leading it to irrational and manic behaviours. This is evident throughout the novel especially when The Monster is talking about being lonely and its effect on him. “I am alone and miserable”
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.
Literature is a form of escape from the world we live in. Whether it’s for school, or some form of entertainment, more often than not, books let the reader escape from the challenges of now. Even if a novel focuses on a lone person that takes place in a day, the reader forms a sense of compassion and companionship with either the author, or the novel itself. Yet the book of Frankenstein creates a web of intermixing relationships that are eternally altered all because of man’s natural desire to learn more. But how do these broken relations between Victor and his loved ones stem from himself?
The Theme of Isolation in “Frankenstein” Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” discusses numerous themes, however, one of the most prevalent is the theme of Isolation. Shelley relays this theme through the characters of Robert Walton, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, as well as Frankenstein’s monster in their letters, thoughts and actions, respectively. Each character will experience the multiple facets of this theme countless times throughout the novel, and all will make critical decisions regarding their place in society.
In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelly depicts the impact that isolation has on the psyche as well as the behaviors we attain throughout life. Shelly achieves this by showing the growth of the Creature, beginning with its spark of life, and ending with its tragic death. Mary Shelly grew up in poverty and throughout her life Mary suffered an intense amount of social seclusion and isolation from intimacy after her late husband Percy Shelly passed away. all of these components of her life had a profound impact on her composition of Frankenstein. From the beginning of this novel, the element of isolation is prevalent.
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.
Isolation and separation from loved ones are commonplace in gothic fiction. The theme of desolated figures in the gothic forces characters to confront aspects of their life they would normally keep hidden from those around them, allowing us to see into the more isolated parts of the mind that we typically fear. Stephanie Craig asserts that a common theme in gothic literature is the theme of insanity, and that “occurrences of insanity may seem coincidental or unrelated, but a closer examination of the culture surrounding such literature tells a different story”. It is such insanity in The Bloody Chamber or Frankenstein that arguably derives from the isolation of characters. Shelley’s Frankenstein was written in the early nineteenth century when
Victor Frankenstein: From Fascination Passion to Unwinding Isolation Madness is defined as “the quality or state of being mad: such as a state of severe mental illness” or “behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous: extreme folly an idea that is pure/sheer madness” (Merriam-Webster). It is also believed that madness also has varying forms and can be caused by feelings of isolation from society. A main part of being human or even most species on earth live with community. This definition of madness fits the stereotype media has placed on scientists and Victor Frankenstein is a prime example.
In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus, Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation experiences alienation, and enrichment while being isolated from his very own creator and the society in which he resides. After two long and dreary year’s Frankenstein was finally able to bring his dream to life, but when his creation awoke “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” Mary Shelly does this to produce a rift and a strong sense of alienation between Victor and his own creation, his own son so to say. After isolation from its creator, the creation found its way to the Cottager’s where he is blessed with the gift of knowledge “they [books] produced in on me an infinity of new images and feelings
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.
Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, actually explores different causes of isolation and its effects in order to emphasize the theme of the consequence of ambitious science and the importance of parental responsibility. One of its prominent themes is the consequence of pursuing scientific discoveries, with the novel focusing on the repercussions of this desire, including isolation. The beginning of the novel introduces R. Walton, an ambitious young explorer sailing towards the North Pole who intends “...to discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle” (3). His letters to his sister reveal that “for the first fourteen years of [his] life [he had] read nothing but [their] uncle Thomas’s books of voyages” leaving him “more illiterate
Bryson Fields Mrs. Sustaita English II, A4 24 March 2023 The Monstrous Affects of Isolation Isolation is a theme found in books, articles, and even art like Bedroom in Arles by Vincent van Gogh, which shows an image of a lonely bedroom, lost and forgotten. Similarly, this can be connected to how Gregor’s room was in the Metamorphosis. Loneliness and isolation are seen more than ever now in modern times, due to the drastic effects of COVID-19.
Isolation and abandonment can cause many different reactions from people. In the words of William A. Sadler Jr., a sociology professor, “We often do not know how to cope. It can make us confused, distraught, depressed, frightened, and even outraged” (Sadler 105). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, several of these effects are presented in Victor Frankenstein and his creation. They both suffer from being isolated from their creator, society, and family units.
