Existentialism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

“A man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him, finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him.” A quote from Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, the man responsible for the birth of existentialist thought. Existentialism is the theory that individuals are independent beings and are free to exercise their own free will. It focuses on questions such as: Do humans have a predetermined essence or do they live completely free from restrictions? If a divine creator does exist, what is its true nature? And whether the universe is indifferent to human existence. This paper takes a deeper look into existentialism and how it can apply to literature. Mary Shelley's
This quote proves that the creature had developed a conscious which influences his decisions. A trait that extends beyond only striving for survival. Mary Shelley explores the concept of humanity and the belief that it does not lie in outward appearances, but within the mind and heart. Because the creature possesses these qualities, he is capable of questioning his own existence.
Humans throughout history have attempted to place meaning on the major aspects of life to assure our suffering is complemented with purpose. The idea of God as the ultimate creator dominated all beliefs for a majority of humanity and guides many to this day. The article, "Beyond Existentialism: Kierkegaard on the Human Relationship with the God Who is the Wholly Other", examines belief within a Christian perspective: "We understand our relationship with God by looking to how the exemplary figures of Scripture related to God. By this means, we construct an idea of the Christian life that we can then apply to our own existence" (Torrance 3). This quote highlights the relationship between God and man and the requirements to living a meaningful life. To many, God gives meaning to things that would otherwise be
The universe provides only uncaring indifference to human existence. The article, “Evolution and Existentialism, an Intellectual Odd Couple, states, "There is no Platonic form of the person, no ideal self of which our corporeal reality is a pale instantiation. Rather, we define ourselves, give ourselves meaning, establish our essence only via our existence" (Barash 1). There is no predetermined self, and humans themselves are responsible for establishing their purpose. Though the creature lacks purpose from his creator, he is a being with the conscious possession of free will. The article, "Early Sartre on Freedom and Ethics", explains free will, "The for-itself is free whenever it makes conscious decisions to act in the reasons-sensitive pursuit of ends, which are not given to its consciousness at the time of decision from outside it, but are rather determined by that consciousness" (Poellner 5). Though the creature possesses his own independent will, he is as prone to internal crisis as he is self-liberation. A problem many who lose faith regularly challenge. With a universe that seems ever so expanding, individuals may question their purpose and wonder if existing has any significance. Existentialism stresses that people are their own beings and are relatively free from outside