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Lisa Tran Angus Period 3 CP English Honors 2 1 February, 2015 Frankenstein Theme “ Remember the friends around you, who center all their hopes in you," (Shelly 63). In times of hardship, friendship is crucial. The monster is stunned by his creator and isolated from society. Through neglect and loneliness, the monster becomes destructive and vengeful. The protagonist, Frankenstein, and the monster suffer from mental and physical health because of alienation. Walton, Frankenstein, and the monster crave for a companion to console with, sympathize, and learn. The Romantic novel,
Frankenstein Frankenstein ,
depicts the need to be loved leading
to disorder and also gruesome murders. In Robert’s first letter to his sister, Margaret, he states that he has no friends. He expresses his unfulfilled desire and absolute necessity need for someone by his side to share his triumphs and failures. He longs for someone who will “regulate his mind” instead of reproaching him for being a “romantic” (Shelley 4). In his second letter, he writes about how he feels an affinity for the lientendent. Walton emphasizes on how the lieutenant is a gentle and kind person, despite the brutality of sea life in which he can relate. relate. Robert yearns for intimacy with with his crew members, but feels that his loneliness is hampering his purpose of the voyage. Throughout the novel, he faces many struggles, such as the harsh weather and being trapped between sheets of ice. In the fourth letter, Walton notices an emaciated young man who is stranded on an ice floe,
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and he nurtures the stranger back to health. Robert is extravagantly exhilarated exh ilarated at the prospect of becoming friends with the stranger, which makes him seem obsessive. This demonstrates the necessity of friendship because the love, suppo rt, and criticism of another human being is what keeps one sane and stable. The power of love is sustaining, especially through difficulties. The monster is Victor Frankenstein’s creation through ambition, inquisitiveness, and forbidden knowledge. The fact that the creature is nameless makes him feel like an outcast and undeserving of love. The monster feels an attachment to his creator and desires for sentimental affection. Because of the creature’s size and horrifying appearance, he is often misunderstood. “ I am an unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around and have no relation or friend upon earth. These amiable people to whom I go have never seen me, and know little about me. I am full of fears, for if I fail here, I am an outcast in the world forever”(Shelley 95). Shelley’s diction choice of “creature” shows how people discriminate discriminate and alienate him because of his appearance. Since he is forced to be on his own, the monster’s only consolation is isolation. The creature is imperfect, but his intentions are benevolent. For example, when the monster first discovered a hut, he stole food not realizing that it is causing the cottagers despair because of poverty. He then tries to reduce their hardship by gathering wood for the cottagers because of guilt. “ They often, I believe, suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially before the old man when they reserved none for themselves” (Shelley 78). This quote is a demonstration of the monster’s understanding and sympathy for the cottager’s c ottager’s feelings of pain. This shows that the creature is humane and is capable of understanding love. Moreover, society created the monster through prejudice and despise. The monster’s desire is to understand why his creator despises him so much. The creature becomes resentful of
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his creator because he loathes and an d is disgusted by his own self. He is denied of companionship and blames Frankenstein for his personal frustration stating, “ I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, due I swear an extinguishable hatred”(Shelley 104). He decides to hurt those who Victor loves most. Revenge is not justifiable. Love is a dominant emotion for the monster, but belligerence is dormant in him. For instance, the monster who was filled with rage at Victor’s indifference, unintentionally hurts then kills the boy. The creature suffers mentally because of abandonment. Like the monster, people who are lonesome and rejected become vengeful. The power of hatred will damage and corrupt the mind and soul. Victor Frankenstein is a scientist whose thirst for knowledge caused chaos to those around him. His fascination with nature and pursuit to create a human being without the help of God came with consequences. After the monster killed everyone Victor loves, he feels he has no reason to live. He exclaims, “ They were dead, and I live; their murdered also lived, and to to destroy him I must drag out my weary wea ry existence” (Shelley 150). Frankenstein feels that without family and friends, his life is meaningless. He is dependent on companionship to achieve happiness in life. However, he does not admit to anyone the horror of his creation because of guilt, shame, and remorse. Furthermore, he seeks for vengeance by making the monster feel “despair” and “drink deep of agony” (Shelly 150). Victor’s motivation in living is to destroy his creation who deprived him of companionship. Hatred can make one do unspeakable acts. He suffers emotionally and mentally mentally watching the people he loves die one by one. Frankenstein runs away from his responsibilities, which result in consequences. Because of his unorthodoxed deed of creating the monster, Victor is left with nothing.
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Friendship is crucial in life. Without someone by y our side during hardships, one can become vengeful and commit acrimonious deeds. No human being should be deprived of support and to be loved. Frankenstein and the monster are denied from companionship, which made them suffer mentally, physically, and spiritually. spiritually. Because of alienation, disorder disorder emerged through the deaths of Frankenstein's loved ones. Walton, Frankenstein, and the monster’s only need is to find companionship.
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Work Cite Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 199 4. Print.
