The Theme of Alienation in Mar essays

The Theme of Alienation in Mar essays Mary Shelleys Frankenstein develops the theme of alienation and isolation and its consequent increase of hostility through various characters throughout the novel. The theme may have originated from various elements, including Mary Shelleys father, William Godwin, who felt that the isolated individual would become vicious. This idea was shared by Shelley and manifested in the characters, Victor Frankenstein and his monster (What is, 7). These creatures were not born hostile, however, driven to their hostile actions to force the acknowledgement of their existence (Thematic Analysis, 1). There were various elements that attributed to the creation of the theme in Shelleys Frankenstein. Throughout the story, Shelley emphasizes the Faust legend that one must conquer the unknown at the cost of ones humanity. This legend was used in the society of English Romantic Poets, who believed that with alienation and solitude they could produce their greatest poetry (Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 188). This is conveyed in Frankenstein with his self-imposed secret experiment and isolation, which produces his obsessive drive to devise the creature. (Literary Sources, 4). This isolation only leads to desperation (Frankenstein by Mary, 188). John Miltons ideas in Paradise Lost are also conveyed in the theme of Shelleys Frankenstein. In the book, Frankenstein refers to the monster in terms used in this novel; the fiend, the demon, the devil, and adversary. Both master and creature are torn by their internal conflicts from misapplied knowledge and their sense of isolation (Lite rary Sources, 5). The final thematic element is her life experiences. Through her fathers belief that isolation would make an individual vicious, her own idea for the theme of Frankenstein arose. Shelley, however, added to her fathers proposition that the viciousness is a product of parental neglect (What is, 2). Franke...