The Identification Of Egoism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a man by the name of Victor tells his story of creating a human being from dismembered body parts and manages to bring it to life. This creation goes on to kill multiple friends and family members of Victor, which leaves him alone, isolated and depressed. Victor goes on to tell his story to a sailor named Robert Walton, who is on a pursuit for knowledge and to benefit the scientific field. Shelley demonstrates how scientific exploration and advancement has a multitude of negative effects on human life and especially their mental health, as demonstrated by Victor and his quest for knowledge.

Bond and Shelley both prove that Victor is an egotist in their respective writings. Victor proves to have a desire

Victor’s high sense of self-worth and his overreaching ambitions are key factors in his quest to create life. Shelley’s characterization of Victor demonstrates how he has an underlying desire to overthrow the natural act of creating life and become one of divinity, one who can create life on his own. He desires to break the barrier of life and death and change the natural cycle of life and

Victor learns that his creation has cost human life, despite him believing the creation will only serve to benefit humanity. He collects his thoughts before heading up the mountain with a sudden realization: “Instead of serenity of conscience…. I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt…” (Shelley 61) Victor feels remorseful of the death of Justine, feeling responsibility for it. He feels a sense of depression due to his being “seduced at university of the possibilities of new and dangerous knowledge.” (Swart “Frankenzebra: dangerous knowledge and the narrative construction of monsters”) Victor is seduced into pursuing deadly knowledge. Due to this, his mental state is drastically impacted, more so than his other problems, such as his isolationism and egotism. Victor feels a sense of depression and guilt, perpetrated by his want to create life. His pursuit to learn something that has yet to be learned by his colleagues and his realization that he is responsible for the deaths of those dear to him causes the depression, which leads to his