Theme Of Existentialism In Frankenstein

Frankenstein Essay According to Existentialist philosophers, we as humans seek to find our definition of self and the exist as an individual of free will rather than a manifestation of cultural and societal oppression. Existentialism asserts that our existence and self-governing will is the truth, whilst the relinquishment to societal rules and pressures is the lie. Prometheus exemplified the concept of limitations, the idea that one must never be impudent enough to reach for the “forbidden”. Perhaps in ancient Greece it served as a sort of moral guideline in order to discourage the breaking of social boundaries; however, in the Romantic era, when such actions were encouraged by the literary movement, Prometheus was often revered as the tragic …show more content…
After Victor Frankenstein’s monster was granted life, he was met with horror and hostility rather than the love and compassion he sincerely desired, deprived of his rights to basic necessities. Furthermore, when Victor had abandoned his creation, he was left to fend for himself, clueless and bewildered by his creator’s reaction; the creature resorted to wandering aimlessly in order to survive without a concept of society and normalcy. Once the creature reached a village, immediately “children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked [him], until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, [he] escaped to the open country and fearfully took refuge" (Shelley 95). This demonstrates society’s lack of understanding for compassion for a creature that would be considered as different or unfamiliar. Despite the creature’s benign nature, the villagers persist in attacking him, revealing the true monstrosity of societal nature. Moreover, when the creature regains faith in humans after observing the gentle kindness of the cottagers, he begins to yearn for the compassion and acceptance expressed amongst them. However, once he finally gained acceptance through the blind old man, he was once again misunderstood and ruthlessly attacked by the other occupants. After the countless rejections by society, despite his constant outreach, he exclaims, “Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all humankind sinned against me?” (Shelley, 275). This quote reveals the torment of his hideous appearance, and how the creature will forever be trapped by society’s expectations of a gruesome monster, regardless of his behavior, tragically forcing the monstrous characteristics upon the