In what ways does Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" .
challenge the expectations of the 19th century reader.
This essay will explore ways in which Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" challenges the expectations of the 19th century reader. There are numerous themes in the book "Frankenstein", which challenge the 19th century expectations. .
In the 19th century, companionship was considered an essential part of living. Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" challenges this through its characters desire for a companion. These characters show solitude and the human need for companionship. The reader learns of Walton's craving for an acquaintance when Walton laments to his sister that his greatest difficulty is that he has no friend. "I have no friend Margaret: when I am glowing with enthusiasm of success, there will be noone to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection." These words reveal that Walton was searching for a companion who would be with him through hard times and good times. Walton refers to his loneliness as, "a most severe evil". Walton feels that it is impossible for him to befriend any of his shipmates, as he thinks he is too sophisticated compared to them. Walton's search ends when he turns to Frankenstein as a friend he had always hoped for. Walton's search for companion ship parallels the creatures desire for a friend and mate. While the creature learnt about feelings and emotions it also feels the need for a companion. The creature says to Frankenstein, "I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me." This shows that the creature cannot correlate with humans because of its inhumanity and pleads to have a companion as hideous as itself. The creature is so keen to have a companion, that he even threatens Frankenstein, he says, "I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear; and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred.
