The Longing For Companionship In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a book about the longing for companionship and social acceptance. British novelist C.S. Lewis once stated “We read to know we are not alone.” (C.S. Lewis) Throughout Shelley’s novel, there it is noticeable that Robert Walton, the monster, and Victor Frankenstein himself are in need of a companion in their life. We first find a longing for companionship when Robert Walton is writing to his sister and says “I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavor to sustain me in dejection. (Shelley 9) Throughout the monster’s life, people are running away from him in terror and it is destroying the monster’s mental state. When Frankenstein began creating the monster, he chose the most beautiful human parts that he could find, but “these luxuries only formed a more horrid contrast.” (Shelley 49) When Victor saw his whole creation, he immediately fled at the sight of the disgusting creature. The monster learns talk by listening to the DeLacey family and he learns to read by listening to Felix teach Safie how to read. Although that learning to read and write were a
Readers may see a parallel in their lives to that of the monster. Elizabeth Gilbert said “To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” (Elizabeth Gilbert) Little to no one has disagreed or frowned upon the thought of wanting to be accepted by others. The only difference between people from reality and the monster is that the longing for acceptance shouldn’t necessarily be as violent as the monster’s, but the passion. The monster helped the readers know that what he did for acceptance was not acceptable, but everyone needs acceptance and companionship in their life not only for their social being, but their mental