Isolation In Frankenstein Essay

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. The novel starts with letters from a mariner named Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret Saville. Walton has embarked on an ambitious quest into the north pole in an attempt to be the first man to traverse the harsh landscape. It is here

I have no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans (Shelley 4).” The companion Walton speaks of to his sister largely reflects upon his inner goals and desires, and only serves to heighten his feelings of loneliness. He goes on to say although he is surrounded by the men present on his ship and the rest of his crew, he does not feel a connection with them. To be isolated does not mean to be entirely alone, in fact, many people feel isolated when they are surrounded by other people; instead isolation often relates to how we perceive ourselves within the world and our environment. Whether completely detached from the rest of the world, or searching for a true companion within

Victor Frankenstein is the quintessential “mad scientist” and his madness comes to a head when he attempts to reanimate a human corpse which he pieced together himself. This project completely overtakes his life and he states, “In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation: my eyeballs were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment (Shelley 33).” Frankenstein’s internal dialogue, as we see here, relays the circumstances surrounding his self-imposed isolation. In spending countless hours slaving away to create life, he has sacrificed his health, both physical and mental. The isolation he has brought upon himself leads him, “... to forget those friends who were so many miles absent and whom I had not seen for so long a time (Shelley 33).” As readers can see, isolation does not only make a man lonely, but also brings about the effects of loneliness and isolation upon those around him. Frankenstein’s toils have led him to become a recluse and as a result of this, those he was once close with he has now lost true connection with. But, Frankenstein’s isolation was brought on independently and was of his own doing. The isolation his creation will soon come to be acquainted with, however, was the fault of his