Alienation In Frankenstein

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“One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race” (Shelley 23). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein follows the path of a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, before and after the dramatic event which forever alters his life--his creation of life. His failure to maintain relationships and support his creation mirrors the failures of his own father. The beast’s carnage follows Victor, forcing him and his creation into near exile from humanity. The novel concludes with Victor’s understanding that he upset the balance of nature and he alone must correct it. These thematic ideas captivated critics of Shelley’s time …show more content…
The isolation endured by the eponymous and his creation binds them in an eternal cycle of revenge. Victor’s will to create life enables him to remove himself entirely from society, focusing solely on his scientific endeavors. The monster’s origin in this environment (one removed from humanity) forms a creature that shares no resemblance to the human race. As a result, he never belongs to a family, cursed to live forever in the uniqueness of his being. The monster blames Frankenstein for his hardships, and vows to enact righteous revenge on his creator. Vile actions towards Victor further segregate the monster; his unending desire to see his maker suffer completely severs any connection to humanity he held. This physical and psychological isolation plagues both Frankenstein and his monster. Literary critics analyze the complex relationship between the two characters and how their joint isolation forces them to interact with one another. This hazardous union begins with Victor’s endeavor to circumvent nature. As he endlessly toils to create life, Victor removes himself from any interaction with humanity. He remembers, “Winter, spring, and summer, passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves--sights which before always yielded me supreme delight, so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation” (Shelley 54). …show more content…
The eponymous’ discovery of scientific texts at a young age inspires his determination to create a living being. His success in this endeavor halts the natural progression of life, and thus imbues the creature with an element no other living being possesses. Nature’s role in the monster’s actions remains unclear; humanity’s terrible treatment of him also influences his thought process. Frankenstein opens in the barren arctic landscape, and following the death of the eponymous, the novel concludes in the same wilderness. Literary critics analyze the role of nature within Frankenstein and how it influences the outcome of the novel. Conflict with nature throughout the novel centers around Victor’s monster. Consumed with the desire to create life through scientific methods, Victor interrupts the natural procession of life. Immediately following his success, he realizes the monstrosity he has created. He exclaims, “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body .. but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (Shelley 56). The complete interruption of the natural progression of life creates extreme turmoil within Victor. He understands how his creature lies outside the boundaries of life, but he cannot imagine the horrors that the monster will perform.
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