In Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" Victor Frankenstein experiences self-inflicted seclusion which leads him to depression and further isolates him, whereas the creature suffers from exogenous caused isolation which ends in furiousness and grievance. The aim of this paper is to analyse the characters’ respective perceptions and handlings of isolation and to put them into dependence to endogenous and exogenous causes to prove if
the types of causes truly have an impact.
Based on the working definition of isolation for this research paper, the development of isolation will be outlined by identifying inducing incidents and processes. It will be pointed out how the characters respond to their isolation. The examination will proceed chronologically and is structured in certain life phases, so that causes such as certain occasions which set in during the development can be emphasized. Afterwards the respective
perception and handling of isolation will be compared.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition of isolation
3. Cause and development of Victor Frankenstein’s isolation
3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s life before creating the creature
3.2 Victor Frankenstein while creating the creature
3.3 Victor Frankenstein’s life between the creature’s “birth” and the first conversation with the creature
3.4 Volume III
4. Cause and development of the creature’s isolation
4.1 The creature’s life until it meets Victor Frankenstein
4.2 Volume III
5. Comparison of both ways of isolation
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Research Objective and Key Topics
The primary aim of this research paper is to analyze the perceptions and management of isolation in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" by comparing the experiences of Victor Frankenstein and his creature, specifically examining how their respective endogenous and exogenous causes of isolation influence their reactions and fates.
- Analysis of self-inflicted versus externally imposed isolation.
- Evaluation of psychological barriers and social rejection as drivers of seclusion.
- The impact of knowledge acquisition and societal alienation on character development.
- Comparative study of the agency and power of decision in escaping isolation.
- The role of family ties and personal choice in maintaining social connections.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Victor Frankenstein while creating the creature
During the creation progress one clearly notices how Victor places his pursuit above all else. He becomes solely occupied with sciences “in the most comprehensive sense of the term”, (32) meaning he puts all his love and engagement into his work. He gets delighted and eager about his application and is engaged with “heart and soul” (32). This attitude hardens with time and is the main cause for Victor’s isolation during this phase of life.
Victor neglects his friends and family. He knows that his father assumes him to be well as long as they are in contact, but will worry about a deficiency in his son’s overall condition if he neglected to get in touch. Nonetheless Victor does not visit home for two years. One sees how his attitude towards social contacts has changed completely. Whereas he put a high value in maintaining harmony and peace of mind in the past, he now shows no effort of maintaining his relationships. Though his father does not reproach him for his ignorance, Victor finds his presumption unjust and wishes to defer his feelings towards his friends as family until his work is completed (32-38). This shows that he is very conscious about his ignorance and distancing, but does not actually blame himself for it and does not actually care about his family’s worries This lack of contacts and engagement with others indicate the isolation he gets in due to his affection to his laboratory.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central research question regarding the impact of endogenous and exogenous causes of isolation on the novel's main characters.
2. Definition of isolation: This chapter establishes a working definition of social isolation, incorporating factors such as lack of relationships, psychological barriers, and feelings of alienation.
3. Cause and development of Victor Frankenstein’s isolation: The chapter explores the progression of Victor’s withdrawal, tracing it from his initial harmonious family life through his obsessive scientific pursuits to his eventual depression and emotional detachment.
3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s life before creating the creature: This section details Victor's upbringing, highlighting his supportive family structure and his initial capacity for high-quality social relationships.
3.2 Victor Frankenstein while creating the creature: This section examines how Victor’s obsession with natural science leads to the neglect of his social duties and the onset of self-imposed isolation.
3.3 Victor Frankenstein’s life between the creature’s “birth” and the first conversation with the creature: This section covers the period after the creation, focusing on Victor’s deep depression and the fluctuating nature of his isolation during his illness and recovery.
3.4 Volume III: This section analyzes the final stages of Victor's isolation, where his desire for an end to misery leads to further withdrawal and emotional distance until his death.
4. Cause and development of the creature’s isolation: This chapter examines the exogenous causes of the creature’s loneliness, driven by societal rejection and its inability to integrate into human circles.
4.1 The creature’s life until it meets Victor Frankenstein: This section tracks the creature’s initial solitude, its desperate attempts to bond with the cottagers, and the subsequent hardening of its personality due to rejection.
4.2 Volume III: This section addresses the creature’s final descent into vengeful isolation after the loss of all hope for a companion.
5. Comparison of both ways of isolation: This chapter contrasts Victor's self-inflicted, choice-based isolation with the creature's forced, externalized state of loneliness.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes that while both characters suffer from isolation, the roots of their response lie in their different agency, capacity for change, and attitudes toward life.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Isolation, Social Alienation, Victor Frankenstein, The Creature, Endogenous Causes, Exogenous Causes, Psychological Barriers, Monstrosity, Social Rejection, Self-Inflicted Seclusion, Loneliness, Character Analysis, Literary Criticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how isolation is perceived and managed by Victor Frankenstein and his creature, focusing on whether endogenous or exogenous causes determine their ability to overcome seclusion.
Which characters are the primary subjects of the analysis?
The analysis focuses on Victor Frankenstein and his created being, comparing their differing paths into and responses to isolation.
What is the core research question regarding the causes of isolation?
The paper aims to prove if the nature of the cause—endogenous (internal) or exogenous (external)—significantly impacts how the characters handle their isolation.
What research methodology is employed in this study?
The research primarily consists of a self-analysis of the novel "Frankenstein" supported by secondary academic essays on monstrosity and alienation by critics like Peter Brooks and Ronald Britton.
What defines the main body of the work?
The main body follows a chronological structure, tracking the life phases of both characters and identifying the specific incidents that trigger their withdrawal from society.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Frankenstein, isolation, social alienation, monstrosity, self-inflicted seclusion, and character study.
How does Victor’s experience of isolation differ from the creature’s?
Victor’s isolation is largely self-inflicted due to his obsession with work and his conscious choices, whereas the creature’s isolation is forced upon it by societal rejection based on its appearance.
Does the author conclude that the characters have the same agency?
No, the author concludes that Victor has the power to change his situation because he is a human with social ties, while the creature’s fate is effectively sealed by its monstrous identity.
- Quote paper
- Melanie Bayo (Author), 2016, Isolation in "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. The perception of being isolated and its dependence to endogenous and exogenous causes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/412546
