Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Already within the first 40 pages, we begin to see the theme of alienation portrayed through both Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein. Robert Walton says, "I have no friend, Margaret"(Shelley, 4) in one of the letters to his sister, and he did not believe he would be able to find one under the circumstances. However, he lucked into finding a person very similar to himself that grew to be his friend. They were able to find each other despite both being fairly alienated individuals. Though during the story Victor tells he is not always alienated, he definitely experienced the feeling of loneliness during his time of building his monster. When Victor left his home, he also left the people behind that he was the closest to. By leaving behind Elizabeth and Henry, he alienated himself, but when focusing solely on the monster, he separated himself even more. We again see Frankenstein alone when he is chasing his creation at the beginning of the story. Though people do not always choose this experience of alienation, I think both Walton and Frankenstein know that they would likely be alone on their journeys. The theme of alienation applies to several people who separate themselves from society or their peers. Sometimes people are able to accomplish more in this state, but the void grows on a person that most humans cannot handle. (Will Frankenstein and Walton be able to handle it?)
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