Alienation and loneliness existed since the beginning of humankind. Throughout time man has been isolated physically and emotionally. Individuals often feel isolated because of their views on a certain topic, social status, or appearance. People view others who deviate from the world of social normality as a cause of corruption in society and a threat to their welfare. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley explores this theme of alienation and loneliness. Mary Shelley portrays her real life situations through this novel as she herself suffered from loneliness after many of her family members died when she was at a very young age. Victor Frankenstein and his creation were two of the characters in this novel that experienced alienation and isolation.
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The monster is inherently “benevolent and good,” but his lonesome journey transforms him into a “fiend” (Shelley 87). The monster describes himself saying, “ ‘My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy; and, when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture, such as you cannot even imagine’ ” (Shelley 209-210). Created with an instinctive need for nurture from his creator, the monster was not capable of living alone in his society. In Stephen Gould’s view, “Frankenstein 's creature… is, rather, born capable of goodness, even with an inclination toward kindness, should circumstances of his upbringing call forth this favored response.” Created with an altered mentality of a baby, the monster had an unbiased view of the world. Even though the monster seeks revenge, it is evident that he is a victim of humankind 's cruelty, which eventually leads him to his vengeful state. The monster expresses his feelings to Victor saying, “ ‘let [man] live with me in the interchange of kindness; and, instead of injury, I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance’ ” (Shelley 135). It is evident that beneath the monsters’ hideous exterior lies a heart full of love and tranquility. This gentle heart was exposed when the monster said, "If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them an hundred and an hundred fold; for that one creature 's sake, I would make peace with the whole kind!" (Shelley 135). People see the external appearance and assume that what lies within must match what is observable. In the words of Stephen Gould, “Frankenstein 's monster was a good man in an appallingly ugly body. His countrymen could have been educated to accept him, but the person responsible for that instruction [Victor] ran away
The monster is inherently “benevolent and good,” but his lonesome journey transforms him into a “fiend” (Shelley 87). The monster describes himself saying, “ ‘My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy; and, when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture, such as you cannot even imagine’ ” (Shelley 209-210). Created with an instinctive need for nurture from his creator, the monster was not capable of living alone in his society. In Stephen Gould’s view, “Frankenstein 's creature… is, rather, born capable of goodness, even with an inclination toward kindness, should circumstances of his upbringing call forth this favored response.” Created with an altered mentality of a baby, the monster had an unbiased view of the world. Even though the monster seeks revenge, it is evident that he is a victim of humankind 's cruelty, which eventually leads him to his vengeful state. The monster expresses his feelings to Victor saying, “ ‘let [man] live with me in the interchange of kindness; and, instead of injury, I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance’ ” (Shelley 135). It is evident that beneath the monsters’ hideous exterior lies a heart full of love and tranquility. This gentle heart was exposed when the monster said, "If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them an hundred and an hundred fold; for that one creature 's sake, I would make peace with the whole kind!" (Shelley 135). People see the external appearance and assume that what lies within must match what is observable. In the words of Stephen Gould, “Frankenstein 's monster was a good man in an appallingly ugly body. His countrymen could have been educated to accept him, but the person responsible for that instruction [Victor] ran away