Loneliness In Frankenstein

Some often find it really difficult to fit in when being considered “the outsider” by their surrounding societies. People merely see Frankenstein and Grendel as “monsters” because of the actions done by them. They are two lonely monsters trying to find a purpose for their own existence in their surrounding societies, because Grendel is hopeless in seeking the truth/reason and Frankenstein is merely confused from the rejection he receives and both try to endure through the pain of loneliness. Both feel as if their existence is a burden in their cultures. Though they obtain happiness from engaging in fights and killing members of their own civilization, they still learn to cope with their place within their societies. Instead of giving up on
In one of his first encounters with the Danes, Grendel kills thirty of their warriors and carries them on his back. He desires human flesh through his acts of violence. His aggression toward the Danes is due to the jealousy of Hrothgar and loneliness that is endured by him through isolation from everyone. Grendel desperately admires his hunger to kill and destroy. “I have not committed the ultimate act of nihilism: I have not killed the queen” (Gardner 90). Grendel fears the idea of compassion and kindness in a society . Therefore he has a hard time accepting Wealtheow (Hrothgar’s wife) into the life of the Danes. At the same time he is confused on whether to kill her or not, because of his self-indulgent philosophy. If he gets rid of her he completely contradicts what he believes in, so he decides not to make a fool of himself. His vulnerability to existence is merely because he is skeptical and doubtful toward the intentions of his surrounding society full of
He merely felt like an outcast since the day he was born and continually repeated it throughout the novel. “It was as a child when I awoke, I felt cold also, half frightened as if it were instinctive finding myself so desolate” (Shelley 68). Being rejected by Victor since he was created was all it took for him to feel insignificant in the world. It was as if his own father abandoned him and throughout the novel was ashamed of his existence. No one cared about the monster, but all he ever really wanted was just his creator’s approval. The monster’s appearance naturally just strikes fear into people and these actions of rejection into one’s society cause for the monster to inflict pain and suffering to his creator’s loved ones so Victor too can feel his suffering. “I shunned the face of man, all sound of joy, or complacency was torture to me; solitude was my only consolation” (Shelley 98) The monster’s vulnerability to the reaction of the De Lacey family helped him accept the fact that he wasn’t welcome into society and was forever going to be in denial. The monster was miserable and the lack of joy that he had compared to the joy he witnessed clarified his worthy of acceptance.
In the end, both of these individuals, Grendel and Frankenstein, are two creatures completely abandoned by the world’s around them. The type of isolation they both endure drives them down paths of destruction where all they want to do is inflict