Similarities Between Frankenstein And Paradise Lost

Unfulfilled Desire
Unfulfilled desire and rebellion are predominant themes that arise throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost.
Starting off with Walton’s letters, it is clear that Walton is damaged psychologically. He commenced on this journey to “a part of the world never visited,” because of a burning desire to believe that he achieved something important in his life (52). During this journey, Walton realized he was situated on a ship occupied by men who he didn’t like, and didn’t like him; and that for a long time he craved a true friend with more experience than him. Yet Walton suffered the neglect of human love and affection. Walton rebels against the norms of society and it doesn’t seem to help him physically,
socially, or mentally.
Switching the perspective over to Victor Frankenstein, he talks about his depressing childhood.
Victor begins to tell the story of how he became interested in natural philosophy, and what kept him interested. He had a thirst for knowledge, and when his father defiled the book Victor was reading and learning from, it lit a fire within him to do everything possible to prove his father wrong. Although Victor felt upset by this situation, it pained him more that his father did not teach him why he felt this book was “sad trash” (68). Therefore, Victor felt neglected by his father and maintained an unfulfilled desire for a father that truly cared. Along with this neglect came the feeling that he was “destined for some great enterprise.” Alas, to an outsider, Victor did just that. He created a living being from nothing. However, Victor only viewed his creation as a monster and not as an astounding scientific discovery. One last thing that Victor wanted for numerous years was to see the death of his creation (118). He became aware of the horror that he had created at the exact moment it came to life and tracked Creature down for years. Because neither Creature, nor Victor were real (they were broken parts of Walton’s psyche), only Walton would be able to put Creature to
death.
Throughout Victor’s upbringing, he knew he was different. He was a solitary child in which he developed a chronic depression. On various occasions, Victor even felt the desire to kill himself (112). Unlike Werther, Victor did not follow through with these tendencies, but instead desired love from others. Although Victor wanted to be normal, he knew with his repressed sexual feelings for the same gender, would never truly feel accepted. Therefore, Victor felt the need to make his life meaningful and devoted himself to the “creation of a human being” (80). Through this creation, Victor thought his creature would “bless” him and he would then fulfill his need to feel loved.
Also within Walton is the third perspective of Creature. From the minute Creature came to life he knew he was different. People ran away from him and attacked him when he came near. It seems that throughout the novel, none of Creatures’ wants and needs were fulfilled. Creature, like Victor, wanted to fit in and feel accepted by society. Through all the encounters he had with humans, especially the DeLacey’s, never did occur. Creature felt detached from the world and once again like Victor, he wanted love and nurturing from his creator/parent.
Victor and Creature had similar desires that were unfulfilled throughout their span of living within Walton’s mind. Having these longings that were constantly denied drove both Victor and his creation into madness. However, because these two beings were projections from Walton’s mind, the craziness that was within them, was simply the madness that was within Walton.
Satan is the first perspective that is shown in John Milton’s, Paradise Lost.