Psychopathic Tendencies In Frankenstein

Psychopathic tendencies in an individual can destroy the lives of many, beginning with those closest to them. The question of psychopathy arises when events of recurring offenses of anti-social behavior are exhibited by a subject. These tendencies, while unusual and alarming, do not always have to be a case of violence. In the case of Victor Frankenstein, an argument can be made on his relation to psychopathy and the non-violent tendencies that come with it. Throughout the novel written by Mary Shelley, the reader witnesses a boy growing into a rich family with an unusual desire for knowledge. This desire gets the best of him however, and he begins his spiral into madness starting with isolation and little white lies. This spiral is what builds

Traits of psychopathy are often aligned with those of manipulators and people with high intelligence in deceitful regards (Smith 2). This deceitful behavior begins when Victor decides to create the monster. He does this in silence, realizing that his actions are those of a madman who would be shunned in society for his actions. Victor recognizes this component in the statement, “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay?” (Shelley 33). Victor goes about his toils in silence throughout the novel with a feeling of discomfort with his own actions. The lies regarding his experimentation are not confined to his first creature, however. Later in the novel Victor sets out to create a female monster upon an urgent request from his first creation. Victor plans a whole trip to England to mask his true intentions and continues to lie to those closest to him. Victor leaves Clerval, his companion on the trip, to build the female monster but is not transparent with Clerval on the true intentions of his actions (Shelley 119). Victor does not learn from his first mistake in this case: another linking factor that places Victor on the side of psychopathy. Because of these distinct repeated instances, Victor's life of pathological lies can be linked with psychopathy and the cycle of manipulation that may come along with