The Personality Of Narcissism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

There are nine official criteria for diagnosing an individual with narcissism. To be medically diagnosed with NPD a subject must meet only five, barley more than half. Victor ever the overachiever, meets six. From the very first sentence of Victor’s narration, Shelley writes his character as one who perceives himself as superior by birth. Victor begins his tale by relating that “I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic.” This egocentric opening, to what he claims is a cautionary tale effectively illustrates one of the primary symptoms in a victim of NPD, someone who “Has a grandiose sense of self-importance”(Seltzer). This symptom is apparent from the initial introduction of Victor’s character, and reoccurs throughout his account. The second symptom of a narcissist, is someone who “Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love”(Seltzer). The creation of Frankenstein’s monster, which is the inciting incident of the novel, is brought about after Victor pursues his dreams of power and intelligence. As he begins his creation he attests, “No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe