The Role Of Illness In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In today’s society, illness can cause people to separate from the everyday routine. Sickness has always been a reason for someone to stay at home, resting, instead of continuing to worsen their health or risk the health of others. Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, falls ill after every traumatic event in the novel. He falls ill after creating the Monster, after Clerval’s murder, and for a short time after Elizabeth’s murder. The author alluded to Victor as playing God in some way for his attempt to create a Monster. He gave another organism or Monster for this matter, “life”. However, Frankenstein’s illness keeps him titled to still being a mortal; someone who is not above the rest. In a sense, falling ill appeared to act as Victor's coping mechanism.
Given that Victor cannot deal with extreme distress, …show more content…
Victor becomes more secluded. This seclusion was mainly due to the fact that he knew anyone with whom he had a relationship would be sought out by the Monster, who would then kill in vengeance. The Monster’s revenge stemmed from Frankenstein not erecting a mate for him. The secret of the Monster’s creation consumes Victor with guilt, and illness is the only escape from the maddening secrecy. He is able to think on his crimes and able to confess only to himself all that he has done corroding his brain.
This said, the only thing which seems to make Victor begin to recover is the promise of spring and consistency. Since Frankenstein is Romantic, nature must be a given and often shown theme. In this novel, nature is given the ability to cure Victor. Not only does it cure him, it allows him to recognize the fact that consistency and peacefulness exists in the world. For example; Mont Blanc, the lake by his home. Therefore, nature is shown as a healing power of human