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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, depicts the need to be loved leading

to disorder and also gruesome murders.

In Roberts 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. Robert yearns for intimacy 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 at the prospect of

becoming friends with the stranger, which makes him seem obsessive. This demonstrates the

necessity of friendship because the love, support, 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 Frankensteins 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 creatures 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). Shelleys diction

choice of creature shows how people discriminate and alienate him because of his appearance.

Since he is forced to be on his own, the monsters 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 monsters

understanding and sympathy for the cottagers 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 monsters

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 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 Victors

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

destroy him I must drag out my weary 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). Victors 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 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 your 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. Because of alienation, disorder emerged through the

deaths of Frankenstein's loved ones. Walton, Frankenstein, and the monsters only need is to find

companionship.
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Work Cite

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print.