Frankenstein Theme: The Misery Caused By Loss

Theme: The Misery Caused by Loss During the novel several characters die, of different causes. Misery is also a main motif, while several personas gradually become more and more miserable. The loss of characters caused dreadful misery. For example, “grief and fear again overcame me” (52), which portrays the highly frail condition of Frankenstein. Even though he is the most visible and brightest example of misery, the whole family is suffering of the loss, in a more profound way, as Ernest describes, how in such a joyful event such as the reunion of Frankenstein and his family, “’tears instead of smiles will be your welcome’” (55). The loss of innocent William has had such an impact on the family, that now anything cheerful in life turns into
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Firstly, when Frankenstein receives the message of the death of his beloved brother, he falls into deep grief, and says to his friend Henry Clerval, that “’Even Cato wept over the dead body of his brother’” (51). Cato was a Roman statesman who was known for opposing emotional stress (“Cato the Younger”). Yet, when his brother died, he is miserable, and weeps over his brother. Frankenstein, derived from this reference, had a strong connection with his sibling. It might have been uncustomary to grieve that period, but Frankenstein’s misery overtakes his will not to grieve. Furthermore, when Frankenstein meets his monster while journeying, the ghoul states that despite the hatred between them, “’I ought to be thy Adam’” (73). This is a biblical allusion to the story of the world creation, and the story of Adam and Eve. Adam was the direct product of God. He was tempted to taste the knowledge fruits, but eventually averted his will. He also attempted to persuade Eve not to taste these fruits. At the end, however, God banished both of them from Heaven. In relation to Frankenstein, this means Frankenstein judged his monster, to which he was the blame, for deeds he did not do, regardless of the fact he himself was probably for the blame of most of them. Also, this means Frankenstein’s monster will adore Frankenstein no matter what happens, as he owes him his creation. The monster will always be the product of