Frankenstein Isolation Essay

Bryson Fields
Mrs. Sustaita
English II, A4
24 March 2023
The Monstrous Affects of Isolation
Isolation is a theme found in books, articles, and even art like Bedroom in Arles by Vincent van Gogh, which shows an image of a lonely bedroom, lost and forgotten. Similarly, this can be connected to how Gregor’s room was in the Metamorphosis. Loneliness and isolation are seen more than ever now in modern times, due to the drastic effects of COVID-19. The psychological toll of isolation can be devastating, leading to feelings of worthlessness, insignificance, and detachment from society. Two primary sources of literature are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, explore the theme of isolation and its effects on the individual.

Through this, we can see the dangers of being disconnected from others and its adverse effects on one's well-being. Both works show how being isolated from society can lead to monstrous behavior and undesirable transformations in the characters. Isolation is a feeling that people get whenever they are alone or cut off. It makes you, in a way, go crazy. After all, people are made to be together. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley says "I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine" (56). Mary Shelley illustrates the monster's experience of both joy and pain in his existence, highlighting the alienation and rejection felt by those who are socially isolated. Literary scholar, Thomas H Schmid, writes in Addiction and Isolation in Frankenstein: A Case of Terminal Uniqueness, “Isolation, as Mary Shelley depicts it, is a kind of death. It is a state in which the self is trapped in a closed system, unable to communicate with anything beyond its boundaries” (Schmid). And in the book,

The story follows Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to find that he has transformed into an insect. His transformation leads to his isolation from society and his family, who begin to treat him as a burden rather than a loved one. Gregor's inability to communicate with others and his physical isolation in his room highlight the detrimental effects of isolation on one's mental health. Kafka's portrayal of isolation in The Metamorphosis warns against the dangers of social isolation and its impact on one's well-being. Upon becoming a monstrous vermin, he experiences a profound sense of loneliness and detachment from society. Through his imagery of Gregor’s feeling "as if he had been buried alive" (Kafka 11) in his isolation, Kafka emphasizes the negative impact of social isolation on mental health. The article The Metamorphosis Masterplots II by Gerhard Brand agrees a literary critic. As he writes “Gregor’s isolation and alienation intensify” (Brand). The author examines the themes of estrangement, isolation, and their detrimental consequences. The protagonist, Gregor, undergoes a physical transformation into a giant insect, which results in his growing social isolation from his family and society, leading him to