Victor Frankenstein’s periods of crazed obsession were
characterized by a disconnect from the natural world around him. When he was
completely immersed in the building his creature, Frankenstein said “I did not
watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me
supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation” (p. 40). In
contrast, when Frankenstein was “recovering” from his mental and physical
exhaustion after building the monster, he said that one of the first signs of
recovery was his enjoyment of springtime: “It was a divine spring, and the
season contributed greatly to my convalescence… my gloom disappeared, and in a
short time I became as cheerful as before I was attacked by the fatal passion”
(p. 47). His “fatal passion”, an obsession that brought him to an unnatural
creation, stopped Frankenstein from being able to enjoy life represented by the
beauty of springtime. Frankenstein’s studies consisted of creating a living
thing from dead bodies, something that is deeply unnatural both today and in
the Victorian era, and literally pulled Frankenstein away from the world around
him. Just like Rosetti’s “Goblin Market”, coming in contact with evil—the
goblin men or the monster—separates one from nature. This theme goes along with
the Romanticism of the Victorian era: nature was glorified in literature and visual
art, partly as a reaction to the industrial revolution. Therefore, Frankenstein’s
disconnect from nature may represent his separation from Victorian ideals by using
science to push the boundaries of the natural world.
Interesting thoughts. I wonder, though, if Frankenstein's monster is truly evil. Does Frankenstein come into contact with evil though his monster? Or is Frankenstein kind of evil himself? (I think I believe the latter). Frankenstein is the one who rejects his creation, lets an innocent girl die because of his creation's actions, and mopes consistently about his woes without actually doing much about them. Frankenstein compares himself to Lucifer, so I think he understands that he is truly the one at fault.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the distancing from nature, I think Frankenstein still seeks solace in nature. After realizing he was the almighty creator of a monster, he went into the mountains in order to feel small. For a short time, nature made him feel like there was a power greater than him, and this was comforting. I do agree, however, that there is some sort of disconnect in play. I think Frankenstein will see more consequences from using science to push the boundaries of the natural world later in the book.
Although Frankenstein’s disconnect from nature may represent his separation from Victorian ideals, I also believe that it could represent an identity crisis in which he was separated from his own ideals. In the novel, nature is definitely glorified and it is evident that the beauty of nature is something that Victor values. When Victor is overwhelmed by his guilt, he leaves his home and heads for the valley of Chamounix. The beauty of nature that Victor encounters on his journey temporarily relieves him of his agony. The solace that Victor was able to find in nature was one that he could not find anywhere else. This indicates the esteem to which Victor holds the natural world and the power that nature has over him. However, in creating his monster, Victor defied the natural world. The inner turmoil that the success of his project caused him was the result of the guilt he felt for using science to push the boundaries of nature. The period of time that consisted of Victor’s obsession over his project was one in which he was disconnected from nature, and therefore disconnected from himself. Reconnecting with nature is the only way Victor will find himself again.
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