The Human Need for Love in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay -- Franke

The Human Need for Love Exposed in Frankenstein Written in 1817 by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein is a sweet about the modern Prometheus, the Roman Titian who stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. The story takes place in several European countries during the late 1700s. It is the recollection of headmaster Frankenstein to a ship captain about his life. Victor is a student of science and medicine who discovers a way to reanimate dead flesh. In a desire to hold the perfect race he constructs a man more powerful than any normal human, and the creation is so deformed and hideous that Victor shuns it. The creation then spends a year wandering searching for companionship, but everywhere he goes he is shunned and feared. Hating life the creature turns its misery on its creator, sidesplitting off Victors family. Frankenstein chases the monster to the North Pole, in an attempt to kill it. Weakened by the cold and long chase, a dying Victor is taken on base a ship, where he relate s his tale to the captain and dies soon after. The next night the monster visits the ship and looks upon Victors body, ashamed by all of the killing he has through the monster flees into the Arctic Ocean, never to be seen again. Frankenstein appears to be a novel about the evil ways of man, but it is truly about the human brain and how it needs acquaintance and love to survive. This theme is apparent from the opening letters from the ship captain to his sister in which the captain writes, I have but one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy ... I have no friend (Shelley 7). The captain is about to venture on his lifes dream of sailing to the North Pole he has a good crew and a fine ship but still wants a friend to share the excitement with. ... ...nd misery, because he killed all that he loved. It is at this moment that he realizes that he doesnt hate Frankenstein but actually loved him the likes of a father, but was so consumed by self loathing and hate that he kille d all he loved. With this passing thought the monster leaps from the ship into the ice-skating rink filled sea, and is never seen again. At first it is seen as a story about man and the evils he can do, yet Frankenstein is actually about the friendship of the soul. Without this basic need the body either withers away and dies or turns to another source, like murder or drink, to fill the hole. Both fatalities can be seen in the story, with Victors friendship and the monsters anger. Neither one fills the gap in their soul, but eventually consumes them until they die. Work Cited Shelley, Mary W. Frankenstein. Great Britain J.M Dent & Sons LTD. 1959.