Themes in Frankenstein [SK, AS, SS, JH, TC]
- The Dangers of Ambition:
In the novel, Victor Frankenstein has extreme ambition– this ambition for knowledge and science is what gets him to generate the idea and create the Creature. But, once Frankenstein sees his own creation and its physical appearance, he is disgusted and abandons it, not wanting to care for it, leaving his responsibilities behind. Having an ambition to learn is a beautiful goal, however, if left unchecked, ambition can disrupt peace in the world and lead to devastating destruction. In this novel, the danger of ambition is what creates the other major theme in the book, which is — - Revenge:
After Victor Frankenstein creates the Creature, he rejects and abandons it. Due to Victor’s sin, the Creature seeks vengeance by killing Victor’s family. Then, Victor finds himself seeking revenge on his own creation for killing his family. The entire novel turns itself into a circle of vengeance, which only reaps destruction. The cyclical nature of revenge in the novel is a very important theme. - Alienation:
In the novel, Victor undergoes extreme alienation from society. He spent 2 years in isolation creating the Monster in his laboratory, or rather described as a prison cell. The alienation from modern society encouraged his ambition to grow. Once the monster is created, he realizes the wrongdoings of his choices. Thus, further alienating him from society by keeping a terrible secret about his horrible creation. This novel suggests that alienation is the root of evil, while it is the punishment as well. - Obsession:
Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with life/death and scientific knowledge is his ultimate demise. He soon realizes that " playing God" should not be played by man. The dangerous obsession leads him to create an inhuman monster that eventually destroys him and everything he loves.
Works to Read Alongside Frankenstein:
"To The Same Flower Poem" by William Woodsworth. This poem makes connections to human life and the natural world. Both works explore the beauty and power of the natural world. In both pieces, nature evokes and represents different emotions. Additionally, the flower’s fleeting beauty and impermanence are similar to the loss of Frankenstein’s innocence as he is corrupted throughout the novel.
"When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be" by John Keats. This poem and Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein explore similar themes, particularly those related to mortality, the fear of unfulfilled potential, and the pursuit of legacy. Specifically, Keats’ poem acknowledges the inevitability of death. At the end of the poem, the narrator resigns himself to the fact that all of his ambitions and desires are insignificant in the face of mortality. Similarly, Victor in Frankenstein is unable to escape death–both of his loved ones and his own.
"Mutability" by Percy Shelley. In chapter 10 of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley alludes to a poem written by her husband called "Mutability." In "Mutability, the narrator laments the way change is the one constant aspect of life. Mary Shelley quotes the last two stanzas of the poem which include concepts about the power of nightmares and singular thoughts.