Essay Example. The Theme of Alienation in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Individuals in most cases have been captivated by either the dark or the unknown. Besides, horror narratives have, over time, enticed people since the introduction of both written and oral works. The word gothic is utilized in numerous contexts, such as in literature, art, music, and dark medieval architectural references (Qiao 5). Besides, it was always used in various novels, particularly those published from the mid-18th century to approximately the 1820s. They portray dark, horrific terrors, for example, unexplained occurrences and bloodsucking vampires. When Mary Shelley published the novel, Frankenstein, its romantic and supernatural elements additionally widen the literary term. Aspects of gothic novels encompassed supernatural, ghosts, and large castles elements. Nature also took a crucial part in forests, thunder, storms, and high mountains. The fantastical and scenery elements created gloomy atmospheres that contained thrilling components, which made their skin crawl. Qiao states that the main aim of the Frankenstein was to reveal the mysterious fears within nature as well as arouse the thrilling horror (4). Besides, gothic novels concentrate on mysterious and supernatural, and their characters appear to associate the supernatural universe with the mortal world. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein, a scientist, crosses the mortal universe through experimentation and works alone in his laboratory, primarily to create a creature from the dead. He goes further and gives the creature supernatural powers. Besides, the monster is at first sensitive and gentle. However, due to human anxiety about its appearance, it is forced to hide from them. Therefore, these instances bring the theme of alienation throughout the novel through Victor and his creation. While Victor chooses to isolate himself from his family and other people through his studies and scientific work, his creation tries to fit in society, but it is forced to isolate itself due to its ugly appearance, which brings the theme of alienation in Frankenstein.

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Victor lives with his family as the only child and later leaves for studies in another town where he stays alone. He is a man of science whose main aim is to achieve the dream of comprehending miracles. Victor starts studying by teaching himself, which is evident when he says, "I was, to a great extent, self-taught with regard to my favorite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child's blindness, added to a student's thirst for knowledge" (Shelley 38). Besides, he abandons his family to school in another town during his younger years. He does communicate with them even though the letter, but in case of any form of contact, it occurred on his condition. He directs his total focus towards his scientific works when he settles in Ingolstadt. Besides, he does not have any friends except Clerval, whose friendship is centered on Victor's conditions. In most cases, he chooses to lock himself in his study room alone before deciding to establish his laboratory "in a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house" (Shelley 52). It acts as complementary to his school's laboratory, where he can study alone without the interruption and interaction with other students. However, for him, these instances of isolation are self-imposed. Therefore, the readers can comprehend that Victor has not been forced to isolation but chooses it for himself.

Although Victor is isolated, he emphasizes that the primary reason for his isolation is due to his creature and scientific viewpoint. He stresses that "I must absent myself from all I love while thus employed. Once commenced, it would quickly be achieved, and I might be restored to my family in peace and happiness" (Shelley 147). In this instance, he is alienated due to fear of the monster he created and later to keep hide information about his creation. However, this ultimately results in his ruin. Victor is additionally isolated from his environment due to his scientific viewpoints. From his childhood, he has been attracted to scientists such as Cornelius Agrippa, a prominent spokesperson of ancient science. Besides, he blames his father for failure to explain to him Agrippa's principles. Thus, his perceptions cause his ruin, which is visible when he expresses, "it is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin" (Shelley 38). Ultimately, it is evident that he chose to alienate himself from family, friends, and schools due to his creation and scientific viewpoint, which ultimately caused his downfall.

In contrast to its creator, Victor's creature does not decide to be alienated from other populations, but it is forced to isolate itself due to its ugly appearance. Every creature desires for affection, but after attempting numerous times to be loved, it acknowledges that humans can never accept it. The first encounter the creature faces rejection occurs when it wakes and sees the terrified look of its creator. Victor instantly runs away, and the novel presents the theme of isolation when Victor states that, "unable to ensure the aspect of the being created, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind ton sleep" (Shelley 55). He leaves the monster alone without any clue of where it is, which is compared to a baby abandoned in a massive world. The monster is additionally rejected by other people, something that widens its separation with society, especially when villagers chase it away to live alone. This experience occurs in its first contact with the villagers when the creature says, "I had hardly placed my foot within the door before the children shrieked, and one woman fainted. The whole village was roused, some fled, some attacked me" (Shelley 101). Consequently, individuals are terrified and horrified by Victor’s creation and they go a step further to pursue it, an act that further introduces the theme of alienation in the novel.

Frankenstein is a fascinating novel that provides thrilling experiences to its readers due to the use of a creature with supernatural powers given by its creator. However, a major theme presented throughout the novel is that of alienation. It is evident through both Victor Frankenstein and his creature. Victor is alienated from his family, friends, and the rest of the world through his studies and scientific works, but his creature is isolated from society due to its ugly appearance which scares the villagers. Therefore, Frankenstein is one of the most thrilling gothic novels that should be recommended to readers who love reading thrillers and stories with supernatural beings since it will not disappoint them.

Works Cited

Qiao, Weirong. "How is Wuthering Heights a Gothic Novel?" International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) 4.5 (2019).http://journal-repository.com/index.php/ijels/article/view/1207

Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein or the Modem Prometheus." London: Printed for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones (1818).