This essay deals with Mary Shelley´s “Frankenstein”. People who do not know the book but only its title often associate the name Frankenstein with the monster. Why do many people think that Frankenstein is the monster?
The question to be discussed in this essay is if Victor and the monster are both single and independent characters or if the monster can be described as Victor Frankenstein´s double.
This essay is the attempt to interpret the book from a psychoanalytical point of view. The analysis refers to the major works of Sigmund Freud.
At first I describe and explain some basic knowledge of Sigmund Freud, such as his model of personality or rather the mental apparatus with its three organisational units ID, EGO and SUPEREGO. After that I name some tools the EGO can use, called Ego Defence Mechanisms, but this is only done very generally. The human drives have to be mentioned and explained because they are very important for the question to be discussed. Because Victor Frankenstein´s life is analysed chronologically the psychosexual development has to be referred to, too. Last but not least Freud´s conception of the human psyche is mentioned and explained. It is important to say that I always refer to Freud when speaking about psychoanalytical expressions in this essay, even when they are not always named as those.
After the explanation of the psychoanalytical basic knowledge which is important for this essay I start the analysis of Victor Frankenstein´s life. As mentioned before, this is done chronologically: from the time of his birth to his death. The different stations in his life are shortly summarized and afterwards analysed and psychoanalytically interpreted in a very detailed way. There are many quotes from the text because it is not possible to prove some claims without referring to the text.
At the end of the analysis I summarize the most important results. After that I shortly discuss these results critically and give possible alternatives.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Psychoanalytical basic knowledge
1.1.1. Freud´s model of personality – the mental apparatus
1.1.2. Ego Defence Mechanism
1.1.3. Human drives
1.1.4. The psychosexual development
1.1.5. The topographical Model
2. Analysis of the text
2.1. Victor´s earliest childhood
2.2. Victor´s youth and puberty
2.3. Victor´s departure to Ingolstadt
2.4. Victor´s studies and his plan to create a human body
2.5. The birth of the monster
2.5. Victor´s first collapse
2.6. The positive development of the monster
2.7. Victor´s apparent recovery
2.8. The Creature´s development to a real monster
2.9. The letter of the father
2.10. Justine´s execution
2.11. Victor´s longing for revenge
2.12. Victor´s departure to the Alpine valleys
2.13. A companion for the monster
2.14. The revenge of the monster
2.15. Victor´s homecoming
2.16. The wedding- night
2.17. The final hunting
3. Conclusion
Research Objective and Scope
This work aims to examine whether Victor Frankenstein and the monster are independent characters or if the monster represents a psychological double of Victor, utilizing a psychoanalytical framework based on the theories of Sigmund Freud.
- Application of Freudian psychoanalytic theory to literary character analysis.
- Examination of Victor Frankenstein's development, trauma, and repression.
- Analysis of the monster as an externalized manifestation of Victor's unconscious desires.
- Critique of the "double" theory versus the literal interpretation of the text.
- Discussion of Oedipus complex, ego defence mechanisms, and libido in the context of the novel.
Excerpt from the Book
2.5. The birth of the monster
After two years of hard work the creature was alive. Although his “hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing” (MS, 58) and his “teeth of pearly whiteness” (ebd., 58) the creature was so ugly that Victor was shocked. The skin of the creature was yellow and “scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath” (ebd., 58). His eyes horrified Victor a lot, because they were watery and almost of the same colour “as the dun-white sockets in which they were set” (ebd., 58).
Horror and disgust filled Victor´s heart so much that he escaped from his room. Being back he fell into sleep and had a dream:
I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking in the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her, but as imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave- worms crawling in the folds of flannel (ebd., 59).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research question regarding whether the monster is a separate entity or a double of Victor Frankenstein through a psychoanalytical lens.
2. Analysis of the text: Offers a detailed, chronological psychoanalytical examination of Victor's life, from childhood to his final hunt for the monster, applying Freudian concepts such as the Oedipus complex and Ego Defence Mechanisms.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, weighing evidence for both the "mental illness" interpretation and the "independent character" interpretation of the novel.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Sigmund Freud, Psychoanalysis, The Monster, Oedipus Complex, Ego Defence Mechanisms, Double, Unconscious, Libido, Repression, Thanatos, Trauma, Identity, Gothic Novel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work investigates Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein" to determine if the monster is a distinct character or a psychological projection of Victor Frankenstein's suppressed desires.
Which theoretical framework is employed?
The analysis strictly follows the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud, focusing on personality models and unconscious drives.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The goal is to interpret the protagonist's development chronologically and evaluate the validity of reading the monster as Victor's "double."
What methodology does the author use?
The author uses a chronological textual analysis combined with literary interpretation grounded in psychoanalytical terminology.
What does the main body cover?
It covers Victor’s entire life—from his upbringing and his mother's death to his studies, the creation of the monster, and the subsequent murders of his family members.
Which keywords characterize this essay?
Key terms include psychoanalysis, Oedipus complex, repression, double, and the Freudian model of the psyche.
How does the author interpret the death of Victor's mother?
The mother's death is seen as a major trauma that triggers a "transfer" of Victor's maternal longings onto his scientific pursuits, eventually leading to the creation of the monster.
How is the "monster" explained in this context?
The monster is interpreted as an externalization of Victor’s regressed sexual desires and his inability to resolve the Oedipus complex.
Does the author consider alternative interpretations?
Yes, the conclusion discusses contradictory evidence, acknowledging that while the psychoanalytical view is compelling, the text also supports a literal reading where the monster exists as an independent entity.
- Quote paper
- Tina Heesel (Author), 2005, Frankenstein and the monster: Two independent characters or two souls in one body? The attempt of a psychoanalytical interpretation , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78493
