Victor Frankenstein and His Relationship to the Romantic Hero in
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818, rotates around the narrative
of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his journey for immortality. As the novel advances,
Frankenstein battles increasingly more with the consequences of his quest
at last prompting his passing. As of now from the beginning of the novel, Victor Frankenstein
displays key characteristics of the Romantic Hero making Victor Frankenstein the Romantic
Hero. By investigating Victor Frankenstein's situation as Romantic Hero the novel's
connection to Romantic literature can likewise be analysed. In this essay the connection
between Victor Frankenstein and the Romantic Hero is analysed.
Firstly, Victor Frankenstein is strongly defined by his emotions. This means that Victor’s
motivation is strongly dependent on emotional reactions. This becomes apparent in the
following quote: “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the
wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?” (58, Shelley,
1818). Victor’s emotional response to the achievement of his goal to create a living creature
from lifeless matter is reflected in this quote. Victor is disgusted after seeing his creation.
, Frankenstein takes time to describe his emotions and uses his emotions to mark his position
against the monster. Because of this position, Victor continues to be disgusted by the
monster for the rest of his life as a result of this. Another use of Victor Frankenstein’s
emotions becomes clear in the following quote:
‘When younger,’ said he, ‘I believed myself destined for some great enterprise. My
feelings are profound, but I pos- sessed a coolness of judgment that fitted me for
illustrious achievements. This sentiment of the worth of my nature supported me
when others would have been oppressed, for I deemed it criminal to throw away in
useless grief those talents that might be useful to my fellow creatures. When I
reflected on the work I had completed, no less a one than the creation of a sensitive
and rational animal, I could not rank myself with the herd of common projectors. But
this thought, which supported me in the commencement of my career, now serves
only to plunge me lower in the dust.
All my speculations and hopes are as nothing, and like the archangel who aspired to
omnipotence, I am chained in an eternal hell. My imagination was vivid, yet my
powers of analysis and application were intense; by the union of these qualities I
conceived the idea and executed the creation of a man. Even now I cannot recollect
without passion my rev- eries while the work was incomplete. I trod heaven in my
thoughts, now exulting in my powers, now burning with the idea of their effects.
From my infancy I was imbued with high hopes and a lofty ambition; but how am I
sunk!
(261, Shelley, 1818)
Victor, according to himself, is a victim of his feelings. Victor’s emotional reactions are
strongly dependent on his environment and the changes within it. Frankenstein’s goal to
make illustrious achievements at young age in science is very much connected with feelings
and imaginations according to himself. Later on, his motivation to attain immortality by
creating the creature was mostly motivated by a desire for glory, so his motivation was
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818, rotates around the narrative
of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his journey for immortality. As the novel advances,
Frankenstein battles increasingly more with the consequences of his quest
at last prompting his passing. As of now from the beginning of the novel, Victor Frankenstein
displays key characteristics of the Romantic Hero making Victor Frankenstein the Romantic
Hero. By investigating Victor Frankenstein's situation as Romantic Hero the novel's
connection to Romantic literature can likewise be analysed. In this essay the connection
between Victor Frankenstein and the Romantic Hero is analysed.
Firstly, Victor Frankenstein is strongly defined by his emotions. This means that Victor’s
motivation is strongly dependent on emotional reactions. This becomes apparent in the
following quote: “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the
wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?” (58, Shelley,
1818). Victor’s emotional response to the achievement of his goal to create a living creature
from lifeless matter is reflected in this quote. Victor is disgusted after seeing his creation.
, Frankenstein takes time to describe his emotions and uses his emotions to mark his position
against the monster. Because of this position, Victor continues to be disgusted by the
monster for the rest of his life as a result of this. Another use of Victor Frankenstein’s
emotions becomes clear in the following quote:
‘When younger,’ said he, ‘I believed myself destined for some great enterprise. My
feelings are profound, but I pos- sessed a coolness of judgment that fitted me for
illustrious achievements. This sentiment of the worth of my nature supported me
when others would have been oppressed, for I deemed it criminal to throw away in
useless grief those talents that might be useful to my fellow creatures. When I
reflected on the work I had completed, no less a one than the creation of a sensitive
and rational animal, I could not rank myself with the herd of common projectors. But
this thought, which supported me in the commencement of my career, now serves
only to plunge me lower in the dust.
All my speculations and hopes are as nothing, and like the archangel who aspired to
omnipotence, I am chained in an eternal hell. My imagination was vivid, yet my
powers of analysis and application were intense; by the union of these qualities I
conceived the idea and executed the creation of a man. Even now I cannot recollect
without passion my rev- eries while the work was incomplete. I trod heaven in my
thoughts, now exulting in my powers, now burning with the idea of their effects.
From my infancy I was imbued with high hopes and a lofty ambition; but how am I
sunk!
(261, Shelley, 1818)
Victor, according to himself, is a victim of his feelings. Victor’s emotional reactions are
strongly dependent on his environment and the changes within it. Frankenstein’s goal to
make illustrious achievements at young age in science is very much connected with feelings
and imaginations according to himself. Later on, his motivation to attain immortality by
creating the creature was mostly motivated by a desire for glory, so his motivation was
