Rejection and Alienation through Isolation in Frankenstein Essay Example

The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is a combination of Gothic, Romantic, horror, and scientific ideas that occur during the 18th century and takes place in present-day Europe. The story revolves around Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates life in the form of a monster, whom he abandons. Victor’s decision to abandon his Creation causes him, and more particularly his loved ones, to face consequences for his actions. The themes of rejection and alienation relate closely to Mary Shelley's inclusion of isolation in her characters. The 3 important characters where the effects of alienation and rejection diverge from isolation in their lives, actions, and relations with others are Victor, Walton, and the Creation.  

Rejection is a major theme that Mary Shelley follows throughout her novel to create lots of emotional build-up in the characters. She uses the idea of isolation to portray how emotions determine their actions. The most prominent and easily recognizable instance of rejection is Victor’s unacceptance of his Creation. When the Creation and Victor are conversing the Creation says, “You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge” (Shelley 69). The Creation has isolated himself in such areas that humans do not occupy. He understands that if his Creator despises him, there is almost a guarantee that the rest of society will reject him as well. Another strong instance of rejection occurs when the Creation learns to talk, by hiding near the DeLacey’s home. He gathers wood for them and one day believes that they will accept him as a friend, but he is instead beaten and left alone. After the incident, he tells himself, “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” (Shelley 97). Through his experience here, he understands that no human will ever accept him due to how he looks, and he is now absurdly angry at his creator and blames him for his hardships. Society judges and treats the Creation solely on his unnatural looks. The Creation once says, “One of the best of these I entered, but I had hardly placed my foot within the door before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the open country” (Shelley 74). Every person rejects and hates him, while he has not done anything wrong. Rejection creates isolation, and together, both form a very negative emotional state which leads to suffering and misery. 

Throughout the novel, the isolation that many characters experience through different events leads to their specific alienation. This element of alienation is a major factor for many important things in the story, it is needed for building the personalities of the characters. Victor’s excessive love for science causes his alienation from society and eventually leads to his downfall. When the Monster tells Victor to make him a companion, Victor thinks to himself, “I must absent myself from all I loved while thus employed” (Shelley 110). His scientific ambition makes him lonely from society and explains why he lives in constant fear. If Victor contained his curiosity and retained from making the Creation, his alienation and problems would not exist. Robert Walton is also like Victor; his scientific ambition has made him embark on a lonely journey to the unknown North Pole. When Walton is writing to his sister he says, “I desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me, whose eyes would reply to mine. You may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend” (Shelley 4). Walton has people around him, but his level of knowledge matches none of those on his ship. His over- intelligence causes him to feel alienated from society. Victor’s Creation is also heavily influenced by alienation, occurrences of rejection and isolation from the world have created his personality. When Victor and the Monster are conversing the Monster says, “Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me?” (Shelley 104). The Creation has completely altered his perspective on humans and the greatest reason for his hatred comes from his alienation from society. Those who suffer from prolonged alienation may lead to self-destruction. Robert Walton suffers from loneliness, Victor creates his doom which he refuses to face, and the Creation has given up and is ready to take his rage out on humanity. 

Throughout the entire story, rejection and alienation are in many scenes and many characters. Shelley’s use of both themes helps develop characters and their reasoning, further advancing the plot of the novel. In the story, forceful isolation creates rejection and gives characters, such as the Creation, to resort to anger and hatred to solve problems. Loneliness leads to alienation over time and can turn into a destructive element, separating oneself from society will have negative consequences as time passes. Mary Shelley’s incorporation of rejection and alienation in Frankenstein is necessary to give the novel a dramatic and meaningful storyline.