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Victor Frankenstein Suffering Quotes

1325 Words6 Pages

Apurv Srirangapatnam
Mrs. Bryan
Pre-AP English 10
Dec. 6th 2022
Copanionhip
Throughout history, guilt has been a source of thought for laymen and philosophers alike. The consensus is praise for those who solve their problems alone and disdain for those who rely on others for help. However, some considered these ideas to be riddled with flaws and impractical for the real world. One such author is Mary Shelley, who explores her ideas of suffering and companionship in her gothic novel Frankenstein through its titular character, Victor Frankenstein. Although Victor ultimately does not resolve his suffering, by facing the consequences of them, he forces himself on a journey that allows him to discover the importance of companionship when addressing …show more content…

This could ultimately be the reason why Victor tries so hard to face his suffering since he believes that there is a way to address it once and for all. Victor has just created his creature and is forced to deal with his emotions in solitude leading him to feel like, "This state of mind preyed upon my health" (Shelley 48). This deliberate repetition of the nature that guilt has on the human body is a unique look into Victor’s psyche. As Victor describes his state of mind following the execution of Justine at the hands of his silence he laments, "The fangs of remorse tore my bosom and would not forego their hold" (Shelley 170). The consistency of Victor’s lexicon seems purposeful in its monstrous elements, which could suggest that Victor believes in the shared characteristics of both a metaphorical monster and the very literal effects of suffering. Both sentences use elements of personification to instill fear in the audience, the very fear that Victor feels when facing the foreign feeling of …show more content…

This often occurs in fulsome paragraphs that highlight Victor’s appreciation of romanticism and as such, his views on the topic of suffering. Robert Walton notices that "The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth" (Shelley 11). Walton’s description of an escape from Earth is justified as the earth represents suffering; Victor uses the beauty of nature to free himself from said suffering. Being able to deal with guilt after so much has happened in Victor's life is a clear indication of the enlightenment he has experienced. However, Victor has also made an important realization about companionship and its limitations. Throughout the novel, everyone who Victor seeks companionship from suffers as a result of their connection to him. They all die at the hands of the creature simply for their relation to him. This could be explained by Victor’s status as a romantic, where it is a fundamental belief that one should live a solitary life rather than one in society. In Victor’s mind, he may believe that, for himself, his companionship cannot come from others, thus explaining his turn to nature for comfort. This point is strengthened by the fact that Victor can seek companionship from Walton, and yet refrains from it for the majority of their time together; only

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