Literary Analysis of the theme of isolation on Frankenstein

In every attempt of composing a novel, the author always presents a quest in different ways to shed more light on unclear information on the issue and their true self. On the other hand, the readership always indulges into a process of uncovering these shreds of the actual motivation, feelings, and convictions of the writer (Booker 12). In the novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the author has used different characters to portray the theme of isolation with productive ideas on how knowledge could be utilized for both evil and good purposes. Moreover, the author also purposefully reveals how technology influenced human beings and the ill treatment of the uneducated. Therefore, this essay seeks to underscore a critical analysis of the theme of isolation in Shelley’s Frankenstein as well as presenting evidence that upholds the purpose of the essay.

The theme of isolation is depicted in a plethora of instance by different characterization in the entire novel. Furthermore, the theme of isolation is a strong theme since the main characters in the novel portray it, and hence it forms the basis of the writer’s feelings and convictions (Booker 26). Victor Frankenstein, the main actor, is very familiar with alienation since he has experienced this all his lifetime from childhood. Explicitly, Victor has faced estrangement from time to time rin ters of childhood life, society, and scientific work.

Frankenstein as the main character in the novel is an ambitious scientist who spends his entire life in recreating life in the form of a monster. Unfortunately, he is determined to accomplish his mission and quest yet very ignorant about the repercussions after that. Later, when his creation begins to deprive him peace and sleep, Victor is then compelled to spend the rest of his life destroy and kill the same creation he worked so hard to bring to existence. During all these time, the scientist is in isolation from the society busy doing his research work and has no time to mingle and even hung out with family and friends (Stripling 24). Apart from his research work, his study was also rigorous, and so he had no time for the society instead devoted himself to his research work as the quest to desire more knowledge.     

Significantly, this happening in Frankenstein’s life gives a real picture of the influence of a postmodern society of science and technology on the lives of people. The influence brought to humans by the creation of the monster is diverse, ranging from murder, human race erosion, and even fulfilling the author’s purpose of good and evil, evil in the sense that man competes God in the creation and goes against natural law. Moreover, the episode is also ironical in the sense that Victor spends entire youthful life to build what he eventually, he struggle to destroy even at the expense of his life (Francis et al 21).

Similarly, the theme of isolation is also is portrayed in victor’s creation. As the desire of every creature to be accepted by human beings, the creation’s desire is thwarted since the people choose to isolate themselves from it due to his scary or hideous appearance. The creator himself perpetuated the first sense of isolation when he could not withstand the ugly look of its creator and looked into a room. In the same manner, the villagers could endure the look either, as some even collapsed and fainted. The creature was even rejected by the families such as the DcLacey family (Bloom 23).

In the entire novel, the creature is only accepted by victor’s blind father and was the only one who could listen to its story, since he could judge it from what he hears but not appearance. The monster is impersonated and given human feelings by the author, thereafter the writer expresses how the monster feels about the rejection from the human beings to the extent that the monster retaliates by killing the family of Frankenstein, the creator, it kills brother, best friend, and wife. The monster arrived at a conclusion after its effort and trial to fit in the society hit the wall (Stripling 30).

The author using this episode symbolizes the pain and agony the destitute, the rejected, the less favored in the society go through. In the process, some innocent people end up being cruel and ruthless. The innocent monster is made to be cruel and alienates itself from human kind due to the reaction and experience it received from human beings. The peak of the matter was when the creature demanded a creation counterpart, upon refusal, it killed victor’s wife, Frankenstein himself launched a conflict with it, and the creature segregated itself and vanished.

In the novel, the theme of isolation is also realized in the characterization of Robert Walton. Walton and Victor shared one thing; the two choses to isolate due to their “lust for knowledge” however, Walton had a unique habit of even despite the tight schedule and commitment in his undertakings he was willing to cancel his expedition when the ship crew was returning home. His entire childhood he spent in loneliness as the victor as he educated himself in a similar manner as Frankenstein. Isolation in Walton’s life is articulated to his expedition when he set out to explore region away from civilizations. Nonetheless, unlike Victor and the creature, Walton has kept the in touch with the society since he used to communicate to her sister through letters (Francis et al 28).

A minor character the father of victor’s mother also displayed estrangement. In his day to day activities, the father to Caroline, victor’s mother sought for solitude and separated himself because of the mistakes he regrets to make as a merchant (Booker 54). Later Caroline is left with a burden of nursing her father, unfortunately; he died something that compelled Caroline to assist the poor and marginalized groups for the very reason that she had been there herself. In the midst of these, the author then introduces Elizabeth as a symbol of an angel sent to the family. Symbolically, Victor can also be seen to be like God because of his scientific work of creation.

In conclusion, the theme of isolation is no doubt one of the most significant themes in the novel Frankenstein. Therefore, in the same line isolation as a theme is a denominator in the characterization of the three most important characters. Victor and Robert due to their studies choose to alienate themselves from the society and so is the monster based on the rejection and ill-treatment from human beings. The separation about the purpose of the essay asserts that postmodernism, advancement in technology has perpetuated isolation, and segregation of other human being culminating to the slogan that every man has been for himself and God for all.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works cited

Booker, Christopher. The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. London [u.a.: Continuum, 2005. Print.

Bloom, Harold. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. New York: Chelsea, 2013. Internet resource.

Stripling, Mahala Y, and Mahala Y. Stripling. Bioethics and Medical Issues in Literature. , 2013. Print.

Francis, Pauline, and Mary W. Shelley. Frankenstein. London: Evans, 2010. Print.