Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Research - Literature review Example

Research paper about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus has been celebrated as the most significant work by Mary Shelley which deals with several pertinent themes. Infused with various aspects of Gothic novel and the Romantic Movement, Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who succeeds in creating life and is affected by his dangerous knowledge. The novel, which has influenced several aspects of literature and popular culture, incorporates various important themes including birth and creation, alienation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the family and the domestic affections. Mary Shelly deals with many different themes throughout the novel, which in turn reveal the education possessed by each character, the relationships between and among various characters, and the connection between one’s fate and actions. The author has been greatly effective in developing these themes though the various characters of the novel and the narrative style of the novelist including the epistolary technique of narration helped in the success of these themes. However, Shelley’s skill in characterization proved to be the most essential factor contributing to the celebration of various pertinent themes in the novel. Thus, the various characters of the novel played a central role in the conveyance of the major themes which have great application even in the contemporary world. Therefore, the themes and characters of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are greatly associated as it is through the characters and their actions that the novelist develops several of the pertinent themes of the novel including birth and creation, alienation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the family and the domestic affections. A reflective analysis of the major themes in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein makes clear that the role of the various characters has been vital in the effective expression of these themes and the novelist deals with several important issues in the work. The use of symbolism has a major influence on the creation of the right mood for the reader’s understanding of these themes. In the first letter of Marlow, the reader gets the right introduction to the entire mood of the novel and the narrator undertakes an exploration of the minds of various characters. “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 splendor.” (Shelley, 1) Therefore, the letters of Marlow rightly introduces the readers to the magical world of the novel in which the novelist suggests pertinent themes through the various characters. In introducing the various themes through the characters of the novel, Shelley expresses her great skill in combining the different elements of literary creation. A reflective analysis of the pertinent themes of the novel by Shelley, one realizes that various characters act as disseminators or representatives of these themes, and the novelist depended greatly on the character development in suggesting the vital themes of the novel. One of the most important themes of the novel has been the pursuit of knowledge, which is mainly suggested through the character of Victor who tries to surpass the general human limits by accessing the secret of life, and a profound understanding of this theme reveals the connection between the characters and themes of the novel. The theme of the pursuit of knowledge has been highly obvious in the novel and it is expressed by Frankenstein’s scientific attempt to make discoveries about human life, which results in the formation of the monster. However, it is not the character of Victor Frankenstein alone who reflects this theme, as the pursuit of knowledge can be seen in the character of Walton also exhibits this theme through his efforts to reach the North Pole. Thus, Robert Walton has a great thirst for exceeding the previous human explorations and “Will you smile at the enthusiasm I express concerning this divine wanderer? You would not if you saw him… Sometimes I have endeavored to discover what quality it is which he possesses that elevates him so immeasurably above any other person I ever knew. I believe it to be an intuitive discernment; a quick but never-failing power of judgment; a penetration into the causes of things, unequalled for clearness and precision; add to this a facility of expression, and a voice whose varied intonations are soul-subduing music.” (Shelley, 16) Thus, the novelist has been effective in dealing with the theme of the pursuit of knowledge through the major characters of the novel and suggests how this endeavor can turn out to be dangerous. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein causes his own destruction through his infatuated hatred of the monster whereas Walton eventually shrinks away from his perfidious undertaking due to the awareness of the destructive aspect of knowledge. The other major themes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein include birth and creation, alienation, and the family and the domestic affections, and the novelist develops these themes through various important characters of the novel. A careful analysis of the novel Frankenstein helps the readers in comprehending the various important themes that are illustrated by Mary Shelley and her ability in developing characters had a central influence in the success of these themes. “She presents these themes through the characters and their actions. Three of the most important themes in the novel are birth and creation should be left to God, alienation leads to distress, and the love of a family is always there. One of the novel’s most outstanding themes is birth and creation should be left to God. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, succeeds in creating a ‘human’ life form. In doing this, Frankenstein has taken over the role of God. Shelley conveys to the reader that Frankenstein has used his ‘workshop of filthy creation’ as a ‘womb’.” (Three Main Themes in Frankenstein) Therefore, the novelist presents the theme of birth and creation through the character of Victor Frankenstein and through the destructive nature of the monster Shelley suggests that any man, including Victor, cannot assume the role of God in creating life. Similarly, the theme of alienation is also presented through the various characters of the novel as this theme is evident in the character of Victor, the monster, and Robert Walton. “Mary Shelley’s novel is above all about the theme of alienation and the innocent victims that are affected by it. The author presents an exceptional character in Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the monster. They are like two halves of a character that cannot live without the other. In the end, this also leads to their ruin.” (Brannstrom, 3) The character of Victor experiences alienation all through his life and he is left alone in his childhood, family, scientific work, and society. In fact, alienation is something that Victor willingly chose for himself as he was in the pursuit of something greater. The nature of his pursuit of knowledge also contributes to his alienation and he finds a solace in his creation, the monster. In turn, the monster has been one of the most tormented characters due to its alienation and unlike its creator it never chose to be alienated. It is alienated by others because of its hideous appearance. In fact, the monster is gravely in search of love and all it wants is to be loved. However, the character is highly alienated by the society which makes him turn dangerous. Similarly, another most important character of the novel, Robert Walton, also represents the theme of isolation and he is the right balance of the isolations seen in Victor and his monster. “Walton chooses, like Victor, isolation with his expedition. But, on the other hand, he also longs for companionship. He is the balance between Victor, who isolates himself from the society, and the creature, which yearns for nothing but to be part of the society. Walton is someone who can strive for distinction but at the same time turn back when his actions might harm others.” (Brannstrom, 14) Therefore, the novelist presents her theme of alienation in the novel through the characters Victor, the monster, and Robert Walton. All these examples from the novel point to the significant connection between the novel’s major themes and characterization. Mary Shelley has been greatly effective in drawing powerful characters that can bring out the major themes that she intended to deal with in the novel Frankenstein. Textual evidences as well as scholarly reviews and analyses of the novel suggest that the characters in the novel act as the major means of expression of the novelist’s pertinent themes. Thus, a careful reading of the novel by Shelley confirms that there is a close connection between the characterization and themes of the novel. In conclusion, the themes and characters of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are greatly associated as it is through the characters and their actions that the novelist develops several of the pertinent themes of the novel including birth and creation, alienation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the family and the domestic affections. Works Cited Brannstrom, Carina. “An Analysis of the Theme of Alienation in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.” 2006. P 3. 01 Aug, 2009. . Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. New York: Plain Label Books. 1922. P 1. “Three Main Themes in Frankenstein.” 01 Aug, 2009. . Read More

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 for ever visible; its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendor.” (Shelley, 1) Therefore, the letters of Marlow rightly introduce the readers to the magical world of the novel in which the novelist suggests pertinent themes through the various characters. In introducing the various themes through the characters of the novel, Shelley expresses her great skill in combining the different elements of literary creation.

A reflective analysis of the pertinent themes of the novel by Shelley, one realizes that various characters act as disseminators or representatives of these themes, and the novelist depended greatly on the character development in suggesting the vital themes of the novel. One of the most important themes of the novel has been the pursuit of knowledge, which is mainly suggested through the character of Victor who tries to surpass the general human limits by accessing the secret of life, and a profound understanding of this theme reveals the connection between the characters and themes of the novel.

The theme of the pursuit of knowledge has been highly obvious in the novel and it is expressed by Frankenstein’s scientific attempt to make discoveries about human life, which results in the formation of the monster. However, it is not the character of Victor Frankenstein alone who reflects this theme, as the pursuit of knowledge can be seen in the character of Walton also exhibits this theme through his efforts to reach the North Pole. Thus, Robert Walton has a great thirst for exceeding the previous human explorations, and “Will you smile at the enthusiasm I express concerning this divine wanderer?

You would not if you saw himSometimes I have endeavored to discover what quality it is which he possesses that elevates him so immeasurably above any other person I ever knew. I believe it to be an intuitive discernment; a quick but never-failing power of judgment; a penetration into the causes of things, unequaled for clearness and precision; add to this a facility of expression, and a voice whose varied intonations are soul-subduing music.” (Shelley, 16) Thus, the novelist has been effective in dealing with the theme of the pursuit of knowledge through the major characters of the novel and suggests how this endeavor can turn out to be dangerous.

In the novel, Victor Frankenstein causes his own destruction through his infatuated hatred of the monster whereas Walton eventually shrinks away from his perfidious undertaking due to the awareness of the destructive aspect of knowledge. The other major themes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein include birth and creation, alienation, and the family and the domestic affections, and the novelist develops these themes through various important characters of the novel. A careful analysis of the novel Frankenstein helps the readers in comprehending the various important themes that are illustrated by Mary Shelley and her ability in developing characters had a central influence on the success of these themes.

“She presents these themes through the characters and their actions. Three of the most important themes in the novel are birth and creation should be left to God, alienation leads to distress, and the love of a family is always there. One of the novel’s most outstanding themes is birth and creation should be left to God. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, succeeds in creating a ‘human life form. In doing this, Frankenstein has taken over the role of God. Shelley conveys to the reader that Frankenstein has used his ‘workshop of filthy creation’ as a ‘womb’.

” (Three Main Themes in Frankenstein) Therefore, the novelist presents the theme of birth and creation through the character of Victor Frankenstein and through the destructive nature of the monster Shelley suggests that any man, including Victor, cannot assume the role of God in creating life.

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