Rejection Effect In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Rejection Effect Humans are brought into this world with a clean slate some may say. They are untainted by impressions of hate, guilt, vengeance, or any other negative or positive human developed emotion. It is through social interaction and events that humans learn social behavior and how to cope with negative situations. The majority of the time, rejection, alienation, and abandonment will form negative emotions which can then lead to anger, hate and vengeance. Throughout Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (1818), the theme of alienation through rejection and abandonment is presented continuously. The idea that violence, due to rejection and abandonment, to control Frankenstein is what the Monster tries to do. Not always is violence
Those who are neglected of any social interaction are severely affected by low IQ’s and inability to form healthy relationships with others. Feral children are examples of children who have been “…raised by animals and isolated from humans” (Henslin 70). These children act like animals by “…lapping water, tore eagerly at raw meat, showed insensitivity to pain and cold” (Henslin 70). Proof that social interaction is what teaches us how to behave. In addition, institutionalized children are another example of how abandonment and isolation weigh heavy on formation of healthy positive social behavior. Studies show that children who are neglected are less likely to be social. Conformity to society and their ability to integrate into human interactions isn’t easy for these children: “They can’t grasp relationships with people…They don’t become friendly or cooperate with others” (Henslin 72). The monster at first was like a feral child, without any human to help raise him or teach him a human lifestyle. It was in a way a bit different with the monster, however, since he learned about families and their interactions from the cottagers. Mary Shelley enabled the daemon to possess a much higher IQ than most men which helped him learn and realize that we all need/yearn for acceptance. Feelings that the Monster posses by realizing from the notes that
It is human nature to desire a sense of acceptance. Through rejection or acceptance humans develop emotions as a result which then formulate their thoughts about themselves. When humans experience a situation of rejection, negative feelings are natural as a response. Those who have a family, close friend or professional help to interact with and to mentor them with these situations can cope with the rejection. Though not easy, social interaction with those who care does soften the blow on this feeling of unacceptance from others. On the other hand, if there is not support or advice to give when this happens these negative feelings may and can result to anger and vengeance. Frankenstein’s daemon is presented with this very feeling when attempting to form a relationship with the De Lacy family. He has no family of his own, he knows already “[He is] an unfortunate and deserted creature” (Shelley 3). The monster elaborates on these feelings “[He has] no friend or relation” (Shelley 3) and shows that he realizes he is alone and deserted. The Monster is alienated by the abandonment of his creator. Followed by this, the rejection from the cottagers due to his appearance is the straw that breaks the camel 's back. “I am an outcast in the world forever” (Shelley 93) were his thoughts if the cottagers rejected him, and they did. At this point he feels all connections to mankind severed. Rage set over the daemon and