Selfishness In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Humans have always shown selfish characteristics. Selfishness was discussed in Nicomachean Ethics, which was written by Aristotle back in 340 BC. In the book, he criticized people who lived through life to only benefit themselves. Other stories have warned against self-centeredness as well. The Greeks spoke of Narcissus, a man who loved himself so much that he fell in love with his own reflection and eventually died of old age. This tale, from which the term “narcissism” originates from, dates all the way back to 50 BC. Frankenstein is another perfect representation of how harmful selfishness can be. Written in 1818, Mary Shelley tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist about to create a being while completely disregarding the …show more content…
After Frankenstein rips up the companion he was making for the creature, the creature vows revenge and tells Frankenstein, “I shall be with you on your wedding night” (Shelley, 1818, p. 156). Victor’s first thought is immediately of himself, and that he will die. He isn’t afraid of death, but rather of Elizabeth’s emotions and perspective of him when he does die. The foreshadowing catches the reader’s attention and begins to build suspense. The curiosity and slowly building dread to see who will die keeps the pace of the story going. Later, Frankenstein exclaims, “Great God! if for one instant I had thought what might be the hellish intention of my fiendish adversary, I would rather have banished myself forever from my native country, and wandered a friendless outcast over the earth, than have consented to this miserable marriage. ... [And] when I thought that I had prepared only my own death, I hastened that of a far dearer victim” (Shelley, 1818, p. 178). This statement shocks and corrects the reader’s perception that Victor would die, but rather, someone else dear to him. This advanced foreshadowing serves to intensify the suspense. This exclamation, however, leads the reader to question Frankenstein’s priorities. Perhaps, if Victor hadn’t been so self absorbed in his thinking, he would have realized that the creature had a vendetta against him, and wanted to cause the most pain he could. Thus, the …show more content…
These actions lead to the deaths of many of his closest friends and family members. Through the effective use of symbolism, heightened emotion, and foreshadowing, Mary Shelley fluidly communicates exactly how painful selfish behavior can be. Even though the extent of the emotional pain experienced in Frankenstein would not be a result of small everyday egocentric actions, hopefully readers can fully understand the devastation that comes with thinking of only themselves, and become more selfless in their actions. In today’s modern age where narcissistic and self-centered ideas are encouraged with selfies and social media, selflessness is a valuable