Human connections allow people to share the burden of their emotions and feel less alone in the confusing journey of life. Companionship can be beneficial to an individual’s physical health and can improve a person’s thought process. Friends and family also greatly improve someone’s emotional state. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Shelley conveys the opinion that companionship plays a vital role in the lives of all creatures by creating characters that experience the crushing weight of loneliness, and showing the resulting consequences of their isolation. Human connections are essential to an individual's well-being. When creating his monster, Victor cuts himself off from his family and the rest of the world. He spends days alone in
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The monster starts out as a moral and kind being, helping the cottagers whom he has come to know as his family. When he is rejected by his only connections to human society, his demeanor plummets to vengeful and he develops an extreme hatred for humanity. The monster describes that his feelings of peace and benevolence were replaced by fury and that he “bore a hell within [him]” (Shelley 125). The monster began pure and innocent, not capable of hurting a soul, but as he realizes how utterly alone he is in the world, he is unable to contain his rage. Having strong bonds with other people would have prevented this outburst and kept the monster emotionally stable. Where the monster lacks companionship and descends into emotional turmoil, Elizabeth uses her connections with her family to keep her sane through difficult times. After Caroline passes away, Victor’s father and brothers do not hide their devastation, but Elizabeth continues to persevere through her despair. Victor admires how she “looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and zeal” (Shelley 29). Elizabeth consoles herself through helping her grieving family and continuing her daily work. With no one to distract her from her own grief, Elizabeth might have become bitter and depressed, but instead she resolves to move forward with her remaining family by her side. The companionship of others can lessen emotional pain, and, conversely, a lack of human connections can amplify mental
The monster starts out as a moral and kind being, helping the cottagers whom he has come to know as his family. When he is rejected by his only connections to human society, his demeanor plummets to vengeful and he develops an extreme hatred for humanity. The monster describes that his feelings of peace and benevolence were replaced by fury and that he “bore a hell within [him]” (Shelley 125). The monster began pure and innocent, not capable of hurting a soul, but as he realizes how utterly alone he is in the world, he is unable to contain his rage. Having strong bonds with other people would have prevented this outburst and kept the monster emotionally stable. Where the monster lacks companionship and descends into emotional turmoil, Elizabeth uses her connections with her family to keep her sane through difficult times. After Caroline passes away, Victor’s father and brothers do not hide their devastation, but Elizabeth continues to persevere through her despair. Victor admires how she “looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and zeal” (Shelley 29). Elizabeth consoles herself through helping her grieving family and continuing her daily work. With no one to distract her from her own grief, Elizabeth might have become bitter and depressed, but instead she resolves to move forward with her remaining family by her side. The companionship of others can lessen emotional pain, and, conversely, a lack of human connections can amplify mental