Self-isolation of Victor Frankenstein
The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, raises the question to what extent could a man be isolated for seeking knowledge? What is the kind of isolation needed; is it enough to be physical? Or could it extend to be emotional and social too? The story shows how ambition for seeking knowledge without limits can leads to physical isolation that may develop to be social isolation. Even more, the person can reach to desire to isolate himself from the surroundings to reach his dream goal. Although goal achievement requires some isolation but still working as a team, sharing ideas with others, discussing details and consequences, exposing to others’ experiences, and listening to advices from experts may bring more useful results. From the moment Victor Frankenstein aims to discover the secrets of life and to change the rules of science in nature, he chooses to isolate himself to work alone to create a living being from assembling dead body parts and organs. Victor succeeds in bringing the creature into life but he becomes horrified of his creature. Victor abandons the creature and chooses to isolate himself even from his creature instead of carrying his responsibility in taking care of what he did. In turn the creature turns into a monster taking revenge on him by killing his brother William, his best friend Henry Clerval, and his wife Elizabeth Lavenza. Throughout the rest of his life, Victor isolates himself from the whole world and devotes all his time and effort chasing his monster.
At first he lived with his loving, caring family. Over time he shows great interest in science and begins to teach himself. “I was, to a great degree, self-taught with regard to my favorite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge” (Shelly 39). As a result of fascination of the theories of ancient philosophers like, Cornelius Agrippa, he concludes his...