Mary Shelley and the Influence of Nature in Frankenstein
Mary Shelley wrote the Gothic tale Frankenstein. The protagonist of the tale created a monster, but he rejected him due to his repulsive appearance. When depressed and alone, Shelley's protagonists turn to nature for solace. In the novel Frankenstein, both Victor and the monster find relief and consolation in nature during their darkest hours. For them, nature was essential because it provided joy and happiness while also relieving their suffering. As a result, the plot and characterization in Frankenstein are greatly influenced by the subject of nature.
The Restorative Powers of Nature for Victor and the Monster
Victor and the monster are treated by Shelley using the restorative powers of nature. Every time Victor felt overwhelmed by grief, all he did was to shun away from humanity and seek solace in nature. For instance, when he had lost all his friends and family who were murdered by the monster he created, Victor felt into deep despair, and he could not even find comfort in his friend Henry. Instead, he is healed by nature on his way to his family in Geneva. This is evident when he says "I contemplated the lake: the waters were placid; all around was calm, and the snowy mountains," "By degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my journey towards Geneva" (Shelley 47). On his way to Geneva, Victor was broken, but nature restored his health and happiness. Moreover, when the monster killed Elizabeth, Victor was also drawn to nature because we see him turn to the mountains for relaxation because he regretted why he created the monster in the first place.
Victor's Horrific Creation and the Comfort of Nature
In addition, Victor was horrified by the monster he created, and this brought a lot of suffering to him. Shelley writes that when he was troubled by the dreadful creation, and he rushed out "drenched by the rain which poured from a black comfortless sky" (Shelley 36). Anytime he looked at his creation, Victor was so perturbed, and he had to run away from the monster to find solace somewhere else, which was in nature.
The Monster's Rejection and Nature's Consolation
Apart from Victor, the monster also found comfort in nature anytime he experienced stress and despair. There is a time the monster felt rejected and abandoned by his creator because of his heinous looks, and he tried to integrate with the people in the society and was rejected, but he found consolation in nature. For instance, when Victor rejected him, he wandered into the wild and was subjected to the harsh weather; the monster finds peace and refuge in nature. Shelley writes that after he was depressed from being rejected by his creator, the monster felt new "with a sensation of pleasure" with the view of the bright moon and its light (71). Therefore, nature acted as a healing power for the monster anytime he felt rejected and alone.
The Soothing Qualities of Nature: A Natural Therapy for Victor and the Monster
In conclusion, in Shelley's Frankenstein, both Victor and the monster find peace and solace in nature when overwhelmed with emotions and stress. Shelley creates characters who take sustenance from nature, as it becomes their natural therapy throughout the story. Both Victor and the Monster avoid humanity and embrace nature for restoration, comfort, and satisfaction. While Victor is destroyed and despaired by the monster he created, he does not consider family and friends for support; however, he is drawn to nature for support. On the other hand, when the monster felt out of place and rejected, his spirits are lightened up by nature. In essence, in Frankenstein, Victor and the monster are revitalized by the soothing qualities of nature every time they are overwhelmed with guilt and rejection.
Work Cited
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. NY: St. Martins, 2000. Print.
