Introduction
The passage from Butler: “An individual depends in countless ways on being recognized as a social being – as a person with feelings and rights, enjoying fellowship in social groups, relying on institutions to provide support, to safeguard our rights, and to care for us when we are in need” (Shelley 38). This quote reflects on Mary Shelley’s childhood when her mother died soon after labor. Hence, the girl was raised by her father, who gave her the best but informal education and taught her anarchist ideas. In a way, she was more advanced in her beliefs and worldviews compared to her female counterparts of that time; thus, she seemed isolated from society.
Discussion
Mary Shelley met a famous anatomy and surgery professor, William Lawrence, several times when she accompanied her father. She could see the opposition between Lawrence and his colleague John Abernethy regarding their theories and understanding (Shelley 25). This debate between two professors inspired Mary to write about her main character, Victor, relationships with two university instructors. Furthermore, since Shelley supported Lawrence’s radical science ideas, she utilized the idea that Frankenstein-type experiments should be allowed for the sake of scientific progress since the human body is just needed to perform specific functions.
The passage from The Novel 1: “A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived” (Shelley 43). This quote accurately represents what can happen to a human being if one is raised in isolation from society since one may or may not become a monster, literally or figuratively.
The quote from The Novel 2: “But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. 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 6). This passage elaborates on the protagonist’s fears that one isolated himself and his creation, generating a monster.
Conclusion
Furthermore, the author claims that despite the fact the man lacks interaction with people, the only thing he wishes is to have a friend by his side. The author of the letter laments that he has no one to share the joy with and be supported during failures.
Work Cited
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. Annotated for Scientists, Engineers, and Creators of All Kinds. MIT Press, 2017.