Elbert Hubbard once said, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This quote means that when life is going bad, make it better, but in the gothic fiction book “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, Shelley, although not knowing the quote, goes against it. In the book, the monster is given a bad life, but can’t make it any better. Shelley uses social issues to make it nearly impossible for the monster to experience life in a positive way. While experiencing the world, the monster comes upon social issues that will have a long lasting effect on its life for the worse. The social issues of loneliness, altruism, and looks have a negative effect on the monster’s emotions. Loneliness has a negative effect on the monster’s emotions from the first day
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Altruism, or selflessness, is seen when the monster notices that the cottagers take care and are concerned with each other, and decides to help them. The acts of selflessness is seen when the monster says; “I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I often took his tools, [...] and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (Shelley 96). After seeing the positive effect of it’s kindness, the monster was happy when the cottagers were happy. The acts of selflessness might have had a positive effect on the monster emotions, but the idea of being selfless and accepted for its acts of kindness caused the monster to finally try to fit in. The monster’s attempt to be acknowledged is seen when the monster says; “At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. [...]. Agatha fainted, and Safie [...] rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father[...]” (Shelley 119). During the talk with the father, everything was fine, but when the others entered, the monster was ferociously forced away. The outcome of this event caused the monster’s heart to sink, making the monster feel sad and upset for not being
Altruism, or selflessness, is seen when the monster notices that the cottagers take care and are concerned with each other, and decides to help them. The acts of selflessness is seen when the monster says; “I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I often took his tools, [...] and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (Shelley 96). After seeing the positive effect of it’s kindness, the monster was happy when the cottagers were happy. The acts of selflessness might have had a positive effect on the monster emotions, but the idea of being selfless and accepted for its acts of kindness caused the monster to finally try to fit in. The monster’s attempt to be acknowledged is seen when the monster says; “At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. [...]. Agatha fainted, and Safie [...] rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father[...]” (Shelley 119). During the talk with the father, everything was fine, but when the others entered, the monster was ferociously forced away. The outcome of this event caused the monster’s heart to sink, making the monster feel sad and upset for not being