The Theme of Nature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Book Report/Review Example

The theme of nature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein The theme of nature in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus playsa major role in conveying the author's concepts and it is one of most enduring themes in the novel which helps the readers in determining the nature of the characters and events. The overall setting or the background of the novel is of pivotal relevance in comprehending the underlying themes of the play and the novelist connects the setting to the power of nature in transforming the characters of the story. All through the story, nature is presented as possessing an enormous curative power which helps the various characters regain the inner powers and strength. Thus, it is the beauty of the natural world that restores Victor to health when he is too despondent of finding solace anywhere else. Mary Shelley is especially categorical about the curative power of nature and she introduces the theme of nature at the very opening of the novel where Marlowe, in his letter to his sister Saville, pointing to the impact of the natural world on him. "I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of Petersburg, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is forever visible; its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendour..." (Shelley, 5) Therefore, the great curative power of nature is an important theme of Shelley's Frankenstein it symbolises purity and innocence in a vile and corrupt world represented by human beings who believe in the power of science. However, a reflective analysis of the themes in the novel confirms that the novelist establishes the freedom and serenity which is the essence of nature has the power to overwhelm, and thereby heal, human emotion. To Mary Shelley, the theme of sublime natural world suggests the possibility of spiritual renewal to human beings as well as it is a vehicle to redefine the masculine prototype of Romanticism. The immense curative power of nature is one of the most enduring themes of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein and the novelist presents her faith in the possibility of spiritual renewal through the powers of the sublime natural world. Throughout the novel, nature has been presented as holding remarkable impact on Victor and the author presents it as his personal physician and personal therapy when the protagonist undergoes torment and anxiety. Heralded as the foremost work of science fiction, Frankenstein presents the inspiring natural world an important source of unrestrained emotional experience and the possibility of spiritual renewal of the characters which also links the novel to the Romantic Movement in literature. There are numerous examples of the influence of nature on the frame of mind of the characters throughout the novel. "The sublime natural world, embraced by Romanticism (late eighteenth century to mid-nineteenth century) as a source of unrestrained emotional experience for the individual, initially offers characters the possibility of spiritual renewal. Mired in depression and remorse after the deaths of William and Justine, for which he feels responsible, Victor heads to the mountains to lift his spirits. Likewise, after a hellish winter of cold and abandonment, the monster feels his heart lighten as spring arrives. The influence of nature on mood is evident throughout the novel, but for Victor, the natural world's power to console him wanes when he realizes that the monster will haunt him no matter where he goes." (Themes, Motifs & Symbols) Thus, as Victor chases the monster fanatically by the end of the novel, nature, in the form of the Arctic desert, functions merely as the symbolic background for his primitive struggle against the monster. The curative power of nature is evident is, therefore, evident all through the novel and even the character of Victor bears witness to it. In a deeper analysis of the theme of nature in the novel Frankenstein, it becomes evident that the author intended to redefine the masculine prototype of Romanticism by the presentation of this theme and, significantly, nature is presented as a feminine figure who suffers at the hands of the dominant human activities. Therefore, one may establish that the intention of the novelist was to present a theme which questions the masculine superiority over Romanticism. Mary Shelley presents nature as a feminine figure who suffers at the hands of the dominant human activities. She also suggests that human attempts to overpower nature result in heavy loss to humans and the suffering of the protagonist at the end of the novel points to the same fact. Through the character of Victor Frankenstein, the author presents the violation of the nature. The tragic situation of the character by the end of the novel is the result of the nature's resistance against such attempts of violation. Therefore, Mary Shelley brings out the essential relationship between human beings and nature, through the theme of nature. "At every level, Victor Frankenstein is engaged upon a rape of nature, a violent penetration and usurpation of the female's 'hiding places,' of the womb... Victor Frankenstein's desire is portrayed as horrible, unattainable, and finally self- destructive. For nature is not the passive, inert, or 'dead' matter that Frankenstein imagines. Frankenstein assumes that he can violate nature and pursue her to her 'hiding place' with impunity. But nature both resists and revenges herself upon his attempts. During his research, nature denies to Victor Frankenstein both mental and physical health... When his experiment is completed, Victor has a fit that renders him "lifeless" for "a long, long time" and that marks the onset of a 'nervous fever' that confines him for many months." (Mellor, 122-23) Nature in the novel is powerful and most influential. Whereas it helps people in achieving spiritual renewal in their life, it also destroys people who are wicked to it. Thus, Victor Frankenstein continues to be tormented by nature through anxiety attacks, bouts of delirium, periods of distraction, and madness when there is a second violation of nature by attempting to create a female human being. His decision to commit blasphemy against nature by creating the female human being makes nature punish him with the return mental illness. "Moreover, nature pursues Victor Frankenstein with the very electricity he has stolen. Lightning, thunder, and rain rage around him. The November night on which he steals the "spark of being" from nature is dreary, dismal, and wet... Frankenstein ends his life and his pursuit of the monster he has made in the arctic regions, surrounded by the aurora borealis, the electromagnetic field of the North Pole. The atmospheric effects of the novel, which most readers have dismissed as little more than the traditional trappings of Gothic fiction, in fact manifest the power of nature to punish those who transgress her boundaries. The elemental forces that Victor has released pursue him to his hiding places, raging round like avenging Furies." (Mellor, 123) In short, the character of Victor Frankenstein pays heavily for his brutal assault and violation of nature and the rules of nature through his scientific means. The novelist Mary Shelley affirms the influence of the nature over the human life when she deals with the theme of nature in her novel Frankenstein. The theme of nature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is an essential tool for the author to redefine the masculine prototype of Romanticism and the nature is presented in the novel as a female character. All through the novel, there are evidences to the implications of Nature which is personified as female and such a representation of the nature discloses Nature's maternal power to the main characters of the work, including Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster. "In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein...the implications of Nature, personified as female, are interesting and complex. The female Nature is particularly significant in consideration of the use of parallel symbols, lightening and moonlight, in the text to reveal Nature's maternal power to the main characters of Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster... Shelley uses Nature, personified as female, as a vehicle to redefine the masculine prototype of Romanticism... In Frankenstein, Victor's driving force to create the monster, and ultimately reanimate life, is the loss of his mother, Caroline Beaufort. In the scene preceding her death, Shelley personifies Nature as a female for the first time when Victor characterizes the studies of Issac Newton as having 'partially unveiled the face of Nature, but her immortal lineaments were still a wonder and a mystery.'" (Renfroe) By personifying nature as female in the novel, the author breaks the superior romantic conventions of the portrayal of nature. Victor, a male who attacks the 'female' nature, witnesses the power of the nature through thunderstorms and the attacks on his personal life. Therefore, there are several evidences all through the novel which suggest the novelist's effective representation of the nature as female and she redefines the masculine prototype of Romanticism through the theme of nature in the novel. Nature resists the attempts to violate its rules and the consequences of human efforts to destroy nature are too heavy. Whereas it implements absolute revenge on human beings who violate its sacred rules, there is very gentle and comforting experience to people who are good to it. "Nature's revenge is absolute: he who violates her sacred hiding places is destroyed. Mary Shelley's novel thus portrays the penalties of raping nature. But it also celebrates an all-creating nature loved and revered by human beings. Those characters capable of deeply feeling the beauties of nature are rewarded with physical and mental health. Even Frankenstein in his moments of tranquillity or youthful innocence can respond powerfully to the glory of nature." (Mellor, 124) Therefore, the novelist is greatly effective in dealing with the theme of nature which is a means to her in representing her major ideas and concerns about Romanticism. Another important subsequent theme of the novel is the conflict between nature and nurture which corresponds to the major themes of the story. The novel deals both with the internal nature as well as the external nature and whereas the former suggests the nature of human beings, the latter point to the external setting of the novel. Thus, it is evident that every human being has an internal nature of things. Both nature and nurture are essential for humanity to learn, live, and survive in this world. While nature represents the biological qualities inherent in human beings at the time of birth, the nurture stands for the qualities that human beings obtain from the outside world. The novelist has been effective in representing the essential conflict between nature and nurture in her novel Frankenstein, and this theme can be seen in an analysis of the characterisation, setting, and irony in the novel. Thus, nurture makes the creature a monster and it overpowers nature. In other words, an analysis of the character of the monster confirms that both nature and nurture contribute to his development. Whereas the nature is a dominant force in determining the human behaviour, the most essential factor leading to the creature's behaviour is nurture. There is an essential conflict between nature and nurture in the novel which is illustrated through the character of the monster and the readers come to recognise that nurture outweighs the nature of the monster. Nature is an important element determining the effect of science and education on the human world. Significantly, in the novel by Shelley, nature also refers to the human nature which is the internal factor determining an individual's external activity. "Within Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein the issue of human nature is explored, specifically through the character of the Creature and his subsequent development. Shelley's dealings with the Creature engage the critical situation of whether man's nature is fixed or not... The Creature...illustrates the potential for tremendous change. But he also shows that additional factors can impose 'limits and bounds' on one's nature such as prejudice against physical appearance and consequent social alienation. Shelley, however, does not take the next step in saying this eliminates personal liability. Instead, she seems to offer a conception of humanity deeply influenced by both circumstance and personal choice." (Herrin) In conclusion, the theme of nature is one of the most prominent themes in the novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley which helps the novelist in establishing her points. Thus, she effectively suggests the possibility of spiritual renewal to human beings as well as the great strength of the nature in determining the future of humanity. In short, the theme of sublime natural world suggests the possibility of spiritual renewal to human beings as well as it serves as a vehicle to redefine the masculine prototype of Romanticism. Works Cited Herrin, Liz. "Human Nature through Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Oration on the Dignity of Man." Associated Content. 2006. 01 May, 2009. . Mellor, Anne Kostelanetz. Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters. Taylor & Francis. 1988. P 122-23. Renfroe, Alicia. "Defining Romanticism: The Implications of Nature Personified as Female in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre." Prometheus Unplugged 2006. 01 May, 2009. . Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus. Marilyn Butler (Ed). London: Oxford University Press. 1998. P 5. "Themes, Motifs & Symbols." Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. SparkNotes. 2009. 01 May, 2009. . Read More