Isolation In Frankenstein Research Paper

The theme of isolation is the one theme that is most developed thoroughly throughout Mary Shelley’s novel. From the beginning of the novel someone has felt isolated from someone else. Victor, the creature, and Elizabeth are three characters that have most developed the theme of isolation. Victor develops the theme of isolation in the novel. Unlike the creature and Elizabeth victor chooses to isolate himself. While working on his research and trying to create life victor loses all contact with his friends and family. “Feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time.” This quote is saying that Victor neglected and isolated himself from his friends, while he worked, for long periods of time. As an effect of his isolation Victor’s physical and mental state suffered because of all the hard work and the loneliness.
Elizabeth is a character who very clearly develops the theme of isolation.
Elizabeth is one of the people who suffer most when victor decides to work on creating the creature. “I have prevented his encountering the inconveniences and perhaps dangers of so long a journey; yet how often have I regretted not being able to perform it myself!” This shows that Elizabeth wanted so much to go and visit Victor to make sure he is getting well but, could not which caused her loneliness. Even after Victor is well Elizabeth is still isolated from Victor. “Answer me, I conjure you, by our mutual happiness, with simple truth--Do you not love another?” Elizabeth who loves Victor is forced to wonder why he is not writing back and if he has found someone else to
love. The creature is arguably the most isolated character of the entire novel. With just a glance at his grotesque appearance he is able to make anyone he encounters to run in fear of him. Because of his outward appearance he is shunned and exiled by society and even the one man who should have cared for him more than anyone else his creator and his father Victor Frankenstein. Breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” In this quote victor is referring to the creature’s appearance which shows that even his father victor isolated him. From the moment of the creature’s birth he was forced from society in self-imposed exile not having any contact with the world or the people in it. “I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.” From this quote the reader can tell that the creature has felt abandoned his whole life. The theme of isolation is a very prominent theme throughout the novel. Isolation is the major theme felt and developed by the major characters as the novel progressed. Victor, Elizabeth, and the creature have felt the isolation in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.