Gothic Elements in Frankenstein - Entry #3
While Mary Shelley’s novel exemplifies romantic writing, she also wields gothic elements into the story as well; creating an eerie, spooky feel immersed in dark emotions and nature. The protagonist in “Frankenstein” shift several times from Robert Walton to Victor Frankenstein to the Creature and back to Frankenstein. While Walton holds a less significant impact on the story Victor tells himself, all three point of views offer the gothic protagonist element in being and feeling isolated throughout their narrative; although Walton is not particularly a protagonist, he is a primary character of the exterior frame story. For example, in Walton’s case, he is on a ship seeking companionship yet feels isolated from his ship mates. In contrast, Victor isolated himself during his obsession of creating his monster, self-imposing his isolation. During Victor’s point of view, he is clearly the protagonist and comes to believe his creation is an evil monster; when confronted by the creature on his retreat in the mountains, Victor states, “Devil… dare you approach me? and do you not fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! and, oh! that I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have diabolically murdered!” (Shelley 68). However, during the creature’s point of view, again himself being the antagonist, he finds Victor to be the evil one and responding with, “I expected this reception… All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life. Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends.” (68). While the creature experience isolation due to his deformities and being seen as a monster merely for being different than humans, he is also offering willed isolation if Victor complies with making him a companion. Thus, the gothic protagonist is always seen as isolated with examples of both self-imposed and as a result of circumstances beyond his control. In addition to the protagonist’s maintaining gothic elements, it results in the decay of both Victor and his creature.
The overall impression of a Gothic world is one of decay, appearing in both the landscape of the novel and within our two main protagonists - yes! The nature and setting reflects the same breakdown as the characters - astute observation!. Victor’s decay began with his obsession towards creating his monster, self-isolating himself and driving himself mad; however, the Creature’s decay began due to his want for the cottagers to be family and is yet again abandoned by them once he comes into contact with them. The night the creature came alive, Victor escapes his apartment and wanders around town, “night been my asylum, and I issued into the streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the wretch whom I feared every turning of the street would present to my view. I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but I felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky.” (36). Victor’s decay stemmed from madness, lead into illness, and was temporarily assuaged with the help of his dear friend, Henry Clerval. However, while the creature experience loneliness and exile prior to stumbling upon the cottagers, it was De Lacey’s family that he became strongly attached to; after his encounter with them failed miserably, they fled, leading the creature into a deeper depression and spiraling decay. He states in a melancholy manner, “My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them; but, allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death.” (99). Thus, while Victor’s decay led him to illness, he had friends and family to pick him up; the creature, however, was completely alone, turning toward violence and destruction of objects and in turn, humans. Emphasizing decay through the setting and the seasons, Shelley, also included a wonderful mirror of Victor’s decay and the Creature’s decay being caused by each other; Victor’s decay was due to the creation of his monster, whereas the Creature’s decay was a similar abandonment of his cottagers as his creator. Both protagonists isolated themselves voluntarily because of the thought/existence of each other, ultimately leading to both of their decay.
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