Frankenstein Research Paper

Alienation as Seen in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a universal classic that encompasses many unique themes. An important and prominent theme within the novel is alienation. The theme of alienation is shown in Shelley’s characterization of Victor and the Creature. This sense of isolation affects their behaviors, how they interact with each other, and with other characters. The following will analyze said solitude and the strain it causes on their relationships. Victor Frankenstein is an interesting and dynamic character. His childhood is an untroubled one since he is pampered generously by his parents Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein. He is pampered so much, that he is given Elizabeth Lavenza, an orphaned child which Caroline adopts for his companionship. As he grows up, Victor becomes increasingly curious of the world around him and begins developing an interest in alchemy and the creation of life. He claims that “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me” (Shelley 30). Due to this ardor for metaphysics, he travels to Ingolstadt and begins to study at university. While studying, his passion quickly turns into obsession as he starts to “meddle in affairs that were better left to God” (Nardo 81). His newfound goal causes him to dream of the unimaginable—creating life. Frankenstein soon wishes to “create a race of beings who, despite their superiority to mankind, would worship him” (Vlasopolos 127). This simplistic statement provides a look into his egotistical attitude which in turn, shows his dedication to something he sets his mind to, no matter how possibly damaging. This immense commitment to creation causes him to neglect his family and lover Elizabeth. He locks himself away in his laboratory for two years which ultimately takes a toll on his mental and physical health. During this time he has nightmares and catches violent illnesses. One night he dreams that “he was embracing his beloved Elizabeth, only to see her turn into a rotting corpse with worms crawling out of her” (Nardo 51). This nightmare is a tipping point that gives Victor fervent anxiety. Between skipping meals and avoiding the outdoors, Victor is left in a fragile and unhealthy state. Yet, the alienation of Victor Frankenstein is all his own choice. He allows himself to be caught up and consumed by his greater than life project. It is his own acquisition of immoral knowledge that leads him to his detrimental isolation. The alienation of the Creature contrasts greatly to Victor’s. The Creature does not choose to isolate himself and avoid society, but instead attempts to do the opposite. The Creature’s earliest memories are that of nature and the cycling of daytime to nighttime. He understands thirst, hunger, and the sensation of fire by which he is “overcome with delight at the warmth” of (Shelley 108). His mind at this time is basically the equivalent to that of “a newborn baby” (Bailey 57). Because of this comparison, it is understood that the Creature is almost innocent. He is unaware of his appearance and inability to communicate with other beings. But, that soon changes when the Creature ventures out to a nearby village in attempt to seek refuge. His non confrontational approach is useless since he possess the look of a monster. “The inhabitants reacted with fear and violence” and bruised him with “stones and many other kinds of missile weapons” (Nardo 55). This initial reaction from the villagers shows their distaste and fear all while upsetting the Creature causing him to flee. The Creature finds his refuge hiding under the De Lacey’s household—a family consisting of a blind father called De Lacey, his son Felix, daughter Agatha, and visitor Safie. The De Lacey family is a very important milestone in the Creature’s life. They influence the Creature’s strife for companionship, they unknowingly give the Creature the gift of language, and provide him with the basic need of shelter (Vlasopolos 127). Thus giving him intelligence and the idea of self-awareness. In return he no longer steals their food and even provides them with firewood. While the De Lacey family seems to be the biggest improvement for the Creature, it is also the most harmful when he eventually gets rejected by them as well. This secondary rejection is more intense because now the Creature understands exactly why he is being rejected. The Creature’s old eagerness of “overcoming his origin” (Vlasopolos 127) to prove his innocence is gone. There is a newfound fire of hatred within him. The Creature started off a peaceful being, but the effects of rejection from both the De Lacey’s and society created this “monster”. Therefore, it was not the Creature who chose his alienation, it was the shallow cruelty of society that forced him into it. The relationship between Victor and the Creature is a complex one filled with not only violent and distasteful encounters, but also slightly sympathetic ones. Victor’s anger is seen early on in their first meeting at the summit of Montanvert. Upon laying eyes on the Creature a second time after its birth, Victor is bothered and becomes violent. “My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another” (Shelley 102). Victor detests his creature and expresses it by the ways he calls him a “wretch”, “monster”, “ogre”, and “fiend” (Nardo 94). “Victor refuses to use a name that would link his creation to any shared community or category” (Bernatchez 207). He wishes for nothing more than to keep the Creature away from society and his family. By not giving him a name, Victor hopes to strip the Creature of any sense of identity or humanity to truly prove he is just a monster. For the Creature, he is not only rejected by society, but also his own creator. As the one who made him, the Creature wants to respect Victor in some way, but he cannot when all Victor does is hate him. All of this anger manifests and the Creature comes to a realization. He says “I will revenge my injuries: If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear; and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred” (Shelley 156). This is the Creature’s turning point in which his innocence is gone and he demands revenge. However, the Creature offers a deal to Victor in exchange to ease his wrath. If Victor creates a female companion for the Creature, then he will bring no more harm to him or his family. He says, “If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again: I will go to the vast wilds of South America” (Shelley 157). The proposal is promising and Victor accepts. This means he will no longer have to worry of this fiend hurting anyone else anymore. However, after countless thoughts of reconsideration and the idea of a demon race threatening the world, Victor goes back on his word of creating a female companion for the Creature. Once again, the Creature is enraged and takes his anger out by killing Elizabeth on her and Victor’s wedding night. This ultimately leaves Victor as a metaphorical orphan. It is not until the end of the story when the Creature and Victor have a sympathetic meeting with each other. Yet, this encounter takes place over Frankenstein’s dead body. The Creature reveals his true regrets while he weeps over Victor’s empty being. The Creature speaks as follows: “That is also my victim!” he exclaimed: “in his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound its close! Oh, Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretriveably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer me.” (Shelley 241) This shows the Creature feels guilt for how he has hurt his creator. He now knows he cannot ask for forgiveness. Even though his creator despised him until death, the Creature does feel sorrow and pain. This proves to be ironic. Earlier before Victor passed away, the Creature had vowed revenge. The Creature wanted to make Victor feel the same pain of being alone as he did. However, once the vow was actually put into place, the Creature begins to regret it. He no longer wants to fight or arouse conflict anymore. The Creature only wishes to live as peacefully as he can in the wilderness by himself. He now wants his isolation from the world he lives in. The interactions between Victor and the Creature are complicated. The majority of them are negative encounters but there are also some decent and thoughtful ones. Although their means of alienation contrast with one another, they have something in common. The emotions they feel during their isolation. A shared sense of guilt, revenge, and hatred. While they oppose each other greatly they come together in the end in the North Pole, one of the most desolate areas of the world. A seemingly perfect location for two alienated beings. Society plays a large role in creating the theme of alienation in Frankenstein. While the characters themselves were singular staples of isolation, it was really society that started it all. For Victor, he is shunned and talked down to because of his interest in alchemy and Cornelius Agrippa. His own father Alphonse tells him “My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash” (Shelley 31). Even at university he was spoken to by his professor saying “Have you,” he said, “really spent your time studying such nonsense?” (Shelley 39). Of course with this type of reaction and criticism to his interests, he is weary to share them with anyone. This already creating his exclusion from society. Because of such adverse impressions, he remains alone and unwilling to communicate with others. The Creature is given all of his misfortune from society. From his birth to his final leave, he is shown no affection or consideration all because of his appearance. This displays the shallowness present in nineteenth century society. For men and women they were “scrutinized according to class standards of department, attitudes toward money, and use of language” (Vlasopolos 127). The De Lacey’s are an example of this attitude. Although poverty stricken, they still keep in touch with their upper class status to which the Creature “acquires attributes of the upper class” because of the them, along with “their aesthetic prejudices and their language” (Vlasopolos 127). Meaning that he is highly intelligent and can communicate properly with people. This can be seen when the Creature makes his attempt to confront the blind man De Lacey and asks him for shelter. To which De Lacey agrees but also responds with, “ ‘By your language, stranger, I suppose you are my countryman;—are you French?’ ” (Shelley 142). This only further proving the intellect of the Creature. But because he is a hideous monster he is constantly rejected. To conclude, the theme of alienation is present in both Victor and the Creature. Victor chooses to remain in confinement while creating the creature, which causes his seclusion from his loved ones. The Creature does his best to interact with society but the people deny his affections and shun him based on his looks. While their behaviors and denials differ when they are alone, once together, they surprisingly parallel to one another. Thus creating more complexity in their love–hate relationship. Shelley’s detailed characterization of both Victor and the Creature creates an interesting theme of alienation and rejection contributing to making it a captivating tale.