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The Impact Of Othering And Loneliness In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein '

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Max Rosner Professor Samalin 24 March 2023 Journal 3 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein illustrates the impact othering and loneliness can have on the psyche. In a passage bridging from the end of Chapter 8 to the beginning of Chapter 9, Frankenstein’s monster laments on his loneliness and designation of “monster” in the world. He is considered as an innately “other” because of his appearance and unnatural birth. In a reaction to this othering, he enacts a violent killing spree to exact revenge against his creator which he justifies under his feelings of loneliness and exclusion. Although Frankenstein acts as a cautionary tale against untethered scientific experimentation, we can also read this as a story of how othering and exclusion can produce …show more content…

In this way, we can see the monster as a more complex individual than his initial outward appearance may suggest. Yet, the monster still feels he is ultimately defined by his appearance. Rather than focusing on developing his mental facilities and overcoming his unconventionality, he insists he is an other and thus demands Frankenstein create him a wife of the same species (Shelley 120). It is true that the monster is an other as exemplified in his outward appearance; however it is murderous actions that truly monstrify …show more content…

Frankenstein’s monster’s avid desire for a female companion in order to save him also falls into line with “incel” beliefs and conceptions of the world. His self-pitying language further reflects “incel culture”; he says, “I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me” (Shelley 120). “Incel” beliefs display this same pathology; because they self-pity and think lowly of themselves they believe they are unable to attract women, yet they only factor appearance into this equation. Their inner pathologies – self-pity, hatred of women, low-self-esteem – are what truly ostracize them rather than the perception of their own

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