Frozen Homosexuality In Frankenstein Essay
Frankengay: the Monster of Repressed Homosexuality
By Aloh Saffran
The monster of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the quintessential embodiment of the other
—which queer theory describes as those whom society at large considers outcasts based on their expression of non-privileged binary characteristics, or characteristics that, without substantial reasoning, have been deemed by society to be undesirable (Butler, ed. Abelove, Barale, and
Halperin). While intellectually comparable with those around it, the monster is physically repulsive and so shunned by society. However, beyond serving merely as a representation of the proverbial other, careful observation of Victor’s actions and relationships, as well as those of the monster,
reveals …show more content…
The glass closet is what lies beyond the initial “closet,” out of which one comes when openly proclaiming his or her sexuality. It is naively assumed that this action is liberating, however upon coming out, many individuals find themselves inside another, glass closet, representational of the idea that no freedoms are granted by publicly announcing your sexuality—the only difference is that now people can see who you are. In Walton’s case, he is convinced that if he runs far enough away, he can escape his unpleasant reality and experience something better and freer. However, at the end of Victor’s story, he hits a glass wall and realizes that he can’t run away from who he is. It is at this point that he himself is confronted with the grotesque manifestation of repressed homosexuality. However, after their conversation, the monster
claims he will erase himself from existence, symbolizing Walton’s resolve to stop repressing his homosexuality, his interaction with Victor having constituted a successful self-exploration.
So we establish that the monster is a manifestation of repressed homosexuality, either that
By Aloh Saffran
The monster of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the quintessential embodiment of the other
—which queer theory describes as those whom society at large considers outcasts based on their expression of non-privileged binary characteristics, or characteristics that, without substantial reasoning, have been deemed by society to be undesirable (Butler, ed. Abelove, Barale, and
Halperin). While intellectually comparable with those around it, the monster is physically repulsive and so shunned by society. However, beyond serving merely as a representation of the proverbial other, careful observation of Victor’s actions and relationships, as well as those of the monster,
reveals …show more content…
The glass closet is what lies beyond the initial “closet,” out of which one comes when openly proclaiming his or her sexuality. It is naively assumed that this action is liberating, however upon coming out, many individuals find themselves inside another, glass closet, representational of the idea that no freedoms are granted by publicly announcing your sexuality—the only difference is that now people can see who you are. In Walton’s case, he is convinced that if he runs far enough away, he can escape his unpleasant reality and experience something better and freer. However, at the end of Victor’s story, he hits a glass wall and realizes that he can’t run away from who he is. It is at this point that he himself is confronted with the grotesque manifestation of repressed homosexuality. However, after their conversation, the monster
claims he will erase himself from existence, symbolizing Walton’s resolve to stop repressing his homosexuality, his interaction with Victor having constituted a successful self-exploration.
So we establish that the monster is a manifestation of repressed homosexuality, either that