Elements Of Romanticism In Frankenstein

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Many main ideas of Romanticism can be seen in the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. Although the dark motifs of the book may seem to overshadow the brighter tones of Romantic style literature, this theme is subtly presented throughout the book. In fact, Frankenstein has been praised to be more of a sophisticated Romantic work, as the novel introduces a rethinking of the Romantic theme. Romantic writers are concerned with nature, human feelings, compassion for mankind, freedom of the individual, and rebellion against society. Writers also comment with the discontent they feel against anything that seems commercial, inhuman, and standardized. Therefore, the gothic elements in the novel question the effortless assumptions of Romanticism, …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein, the scientist who created the monster, spent his life obsessing over the sciences. He immersed himself in textbooks and proceeded to college, all of these institutions are a part of the Enlightenment thinkers. However, it is important to note that Victor was set out for a Romantic quest for the ideal, perfect human, but inevitably creates a monster because of his scientific and rational methods. The monster’s “Yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath…his teeth a pearly of whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his…shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.” (35) The natural imagery in the following line expresses Victor’s feelings about the undertaking by stating that “No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success,” (32) he tells the reader, recalling his project in the lab. He says that “Life and Death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through…a new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.”
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