Frankenstein by Mary Shelley | Teen Ink

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

April 5, 2023
By Anonymous

   Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley, depicts a scientist, Victor Frankenstein who gives life to a being of his own creation. Victor’s passion for combining alchemy with modern science in the hopes of creating life is greatly influenced by his grief caused by the death of his mother. Victor’s scientific pursuit without thought and unrestrained science demonstrates how the reckless pursuit of scientific knowledge results in consequences, tragedy, and despair. Written amid the darkest years of Shelley’s life, the unexpected death of her two sisters had profoundly impacted Shelley and deeply inspired her writing of Frankenstein. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, conveys the power of isolation and the importance of companionship in life.


 

   Companionship and solidarity are emphasized as being essential to human life in Frankenstein. All of the tragedy, murder, and misery that take place in the novel is primarily caused by the absence of connections to either family or friends. For example, Victor's mother's death is the impetus for his creation of the monster. After the death of his mother, Victor was tormented by the harsh reality, "I, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure – I was now alone." Victor loses sight of his obligations and the consequences when he buries himself in his studies and separates himself from human interaction, blaming his isolation from his family for his disastrous decision to create the Monster.  Although Victor is morally exonerated from responsibility for the horrendous creation, he endures great consequences for his creation.


   Furthermore, the monster is vengeful not because the monster is innately evil, but rather because of his constant endurance of alienation and loneliness.  The monster questions himself in his narrative, “And what was I? Of my creation and creator, I was absolutely ignorant, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. “Through his narrative, the monster elucidates how he was often rejected by people and lacked familial ties or companion. He feels much more intensely alone as he does not understand his existence. The monster explains his experience to victor that, “I had never yet seen a being resembling me, or who claimed any intercourse with me. What was I?” The monster strives to understand and searches for his identity and individuality because of his agonizing experience of coming into the world abandoned, confused, excluded, and alone.

   Therefore, the monster’s perpetual encounter with rejection, exclusion, injustice, and loneliness leads to his repressed anger and hatred toward his creator. Consequently, he resorts to violence in order to force Victor Frankenstein to experience and share his suffering.  The monster reflects that “There was none among the myriads of men who existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my enemies? No: from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery. “The monster makes Frankenstein understand the feeling of despondency and solitude by murdering the people he loves the most. In a sense, isolation—rather than Victor or the monster—is the real villain in Frankenstein. 



   In conclusion, Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley, depicts a scientist, Victor Frankenstein who is allured by the power and potential of science. Frankenstein evidently underlines the importance of companionship and acquaintances in life. Although The monster is responsible for many violent actions throughout the novel, the monster encounters persistent rejection, injustice, and loneliness. He struggles to find a sense of family and community and is rejected by everyone he comes in contact with due to his ugly appearance. From Victor’s point of view, the monster is nothing but a hideous and evil creature; but from through the monster’s narrative, the readers are able to clearly understand his feelings and motives and sympathize for him as an emotional being.  Even though his cruel behavior is unjustified, the rejection and alienation he experiences makes him a Pitiful and understandable character.



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