The process Frankenstein obtained in constructing the creature he has planned for was based on his determination, obsession, and commitment. For instance, in chapter four it states, “To examine the causes of life…. I became acquainted with the science of anatomy, but this was not sufficient; I must also observe the natural decay and corruption of the human body”(Shelley 18). This proves how he was committed towards his work since he studied constantly with little bits of rest. Clearly, showing his obsession was not letting him stop until his work was complete.
In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, we see how revenge can lead to obsession. In Chapters 23 to the end, Victor is so obsessed with getting revenge on the monster for killing Elizabeth and everyone else. His obsession with revenge starts on his wedding night when the monster killed Elizabeth. He then states while talking to the magistrate: “That cannot be; but all that I can say will be little avail. My revenge is of no moment to you: yet, while I allow it to be a vice, I confess that is it the devouring and only passion of my soul.
Self-awareness is arguably the most fundamental issue in psychology, developmentally and evolutionary according to infant and child development specialist Dr. Philippe Rochat. From birth to age four or five a child will gradually form self-perception. Seeing and touching are ways in which a child perceives themselves through another’s eyes which is a very important time in a child’s life. Dr. Rochat as well claims that without the proper guidance and support, the process of self-perception becomes torturous for a child. Mary Shelley depicts the fight to perceive one’s self in her gothic novel Frankenstein, through the miseries of the Monster created by the central character of the novel, Victor Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein is a frame narrative of the life of Victor Frankenstein recorded by Robert Walton. It is circled around his creation of a monster that suffered a lonely life and wanted revenge for being created. In Frankenstein, Shelley portrays many big ideas but, one that continues to show importance is the idea of Human Needs and Desires. so, in the novel Mary Shelley presents the idea that all creatures have a basic need for friendship and love.
The first letter in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein reveals a variety of literary devices such as ‘theme’ that accurately foreshadows various elements from the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Victor and Walter begin by setting out for recognition and popularity, these two desires intertwine together as they go in-depth when Victor says "wealthy was an inferior object, but with glory with attend discovery". This quote sheds light on Victor selfish desires.
Going through life, it is not people's eyes that are blind, but their hearts. People always want to disbelieve the things that are happening in front of them. In the story Frankenstien, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, the main character, had this quest for knowledge that he wanted to succeed in. Doing this, he had created a monster that goes around terrorizing victims' lives. He became selfish and greedy for himself.
Internal Conflict in Frankenstein Frankenstein. A name that is known around the world. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, wrote this classic in 1818 when she was 19 years old. Mary Shelley did not anticipate that her book would grow to be this well known. Though she did plan how the book’s motifs and themes would be significant, including internal conflict.
Victor and Manfred share an important similarity: the desire for radical autonomy. Manfred’s development of autonomy is in two strongly definable phases. Manfred’s situation better suits his pursuit of complete autonomy because he does not have a responsibility to those around him. This allows him to be fully independent from obligations. In Frankenstein, Victor continually tries to attain a defiant autonomy, but he is swimming against the current with his desire.
Oftentimes people are too afraid of what people might think to show their full potential. This is not the case for Victor in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. In Frankenstein we see the journey of Victor and his creation as they separately get rejected and misunderstood by society. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein supports Emerson’s ideas of self-reliance because Victor shows that fearless people can achieve greatness.
While he insists that he cares about others, he always puts himself and his well being above all, which tends to bring out his selfish traits and behaviors. When Frankenstein is working to make the monster he is seemingly happy, and we see him as a more or less gentle hearted character. However, he shows his selfish undertone as soon as the creature is brought to life and rejected almost immediately. “His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed downstairs.
Ambition as propelling it is, however can lead to the demise of the person influenced by it. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, informs the reader of the consequences of ambition, by telling a story of man named Victor Frankenstein who is overwhelmed by his ambition to see the atrocities he commits. In his ignorance created a monster who served to be Victor’s mistake as he slaughtered his family members. The novel illustrates the dangers of ambition because it is the main reason of Victor’s downfall. Pursuing a desire too strongly as to cause obsession is what destroyed Victor.
„I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me; whose eyes would reply to mine. You may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend” (Shelley 163-164). This is the wish of the scientist Robert Walton whose letters start Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. Unlike the first thoughts coming to mind when hearing the title, friendship is one of the main topics in the story and the wish Walton expresses in the beginning stands for the desires of all the main characters. Not only Walton feels to be in need of companionship, the central character Victor Frankenstein does so too and even the Creature he brings into being expresses its strong wish to belong to someone.
Rebecca McNutt once stated in her text Bittersweet a timeless quote: “Again we have the problem that whether you’re moral or not is a matter of whether it's cost-effective.” Humans mostly seem motivated by asking themselves a simple question, “If I do this will I get something from it?” If the answer is a yes, then many people will do what is being questioned. If it's no, we tend to leave it and carry on with our lives. The whole idea of selfishness within a novel can be used as a way to bring us to feel sympathy towards a character, or even to see them as evil.
Selfish Desires Selfishness has caused the downfall of countless characters throughout a multitude of literary works. This selfishness is also what usually precedes a character’s isolation due to the consequences of their actions. One example of this can be found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein when Victor Frankenstein defies the natural order to accomplish his personal goals. Likewise, in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Mariner makes a fatal mistake of performing a selfish action without thinking of the consequences. These works use the character’s actions and the main characters to explore how selfish decisions leads to one’s own isolation and the destruction of those around them.
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
