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Isolation In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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One of the most obvious tensions in Frankenstein is the creature's isolation. Even though he made efforts to find a companion, he had lived alone since the day he was created. His predicament is primarily a result of being shunned by society due to his appearance. Victor Frankenstein, who created him, said he was repulsive and “his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath." (Shelly, Ch 5) He paints a picture of a frigid body whose skin only just conceals the muscle and blood arteries. Straight black lips and pearl white teeth describe the monster. His "limbs were in proportion," (Shelly, Ch 5) which gave the impression that his face was out of balance, and made his complexion appear "shriveled." People around him …show more content…

After the creature read Milton’s, Paradise lost, he began to compare his life story to that of Satan’s in the poem stating, “Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.” (Shelly, Ch 15) He makes this comparison because like Satan, he was rejected and isolated by his creator which could also be seen as a jab towards Victor for playing God. However, he was still committed to finding someone who was exactly like him in the sense that they looked exactly like him so that they too would be isolated from society due to their image and they would then turn to him because they would be alike in all senses. However, despite his efforts, he fails to get even …show more content…

Hindley's isolation serves as a major theme throughout the novel, and its effects can be seen in his relationships with other characters. Hindley is isolated from the beginning of the novel, with the death of his mother and the arrival of Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights. Hindley is jealous of his father's attention towards Heathcliff, and as a result, he becomes bitter and resentful. He is unable to form a bond with Heathcliff, and their relationship is fraught with tension and conflict. One of many insults that Hindley has towards Heathcliff includes, “Off, dog! I pray that he may break your neck... be damned, you beggarly interloper! I hope he’ll kick out your brains!” (Brontë, Ch 4) He becomes consumed by his hatred towards Heathcliff, and he loses sight of what is truly important in his life. This isolation continues throughout Hindley's life, as he becomes an alcoholic and becomes more and more distant from the other characters in the novel. He becomes obsessed with gaining revenge on Heathcliff, and this obsession ultimately leads to his own

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