Frankenstein: a Psychological Analysis

What truly makes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein an entertaining book, in my viewpoint, is the mental advancement of each of the characters throughout the story. The finest way to display such mental development is to compare occasions and ideas from the book to Sigmund Freud's theories on the conscience. Freud's "id" is revealed through primitive actions of particular characters; those that involve little judgment and rely on impulses instead of notified choices.

The "ego" can be observed through basic ideas and decisions that are made without the influence of conscience.

The "super-ego" is, in truth, mindful thought itself, frequently characterized by the guilt or other feelings that come as a result of the "id" and "ego". As you will see, Freudian theory has a crucial place in the literary masterpiece that is Frankenstein. While the idea of the "id" is probably the least widespread of the three in Frankenstein, it still plays a significant function in shaping the characters, a lot of particularly, Frankenstein's monster.

Get quality help now

KarrieWrites

Verified writer

Proficient in: Human Nature

5 (339)

“ KarrieWrites did such a phenomenal job on this assignment! He completed it prior to its deadline and was thorough and informative. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Id" is most commonly applied to instinctual actions and those taken merely out of a requirement for survival and pleasure principle. The monster discovers himself satisfying his "id" when teaching himself the fundamental means of living and human action. These abilities offer him what he requires to live and obtain his necessities, however contribute nothing to his supreme awareness. Much as the "id" is related to primitive inhuman desires, Frankenstein's monster handles a bestial and primitive image.

Next amongst the 3 parts of Freud's psychic device is "ego".

"Ego" is applied to the organized and realistic part of a character's mentality and, unlike the "id", needs judgment and next-level thinking. Victor Frankenstein's ready advancement into a clinically discovered being and after that his endeavor into developing life from inanimate body parts properly shows the advanced, yet still somewhat surface area, thought process of an "ego"-influenced being. Furthermore, it is Frankenstein's "ego" that ranges him from his friends and family.

At this point he has the capacity to make decisions and act on them, but not consider or feel what might come out of them. Victor Frankenstein’s “ego” soon turns into “super-ego” as the consequences of his actions become visible. The “super-ego” plays the moral role of the three, allowing for emotional comprehension of the events that unfold. Guilt seems to be a common thread between the “super-egos” of Frankenstein and his monster. Victor is overwhelmed with guilt upon realizing that his creation is responsible for the deaths of his brother, father, friend, and wife.

He even seeks a temporary release from the guilt in isolation and appreciation of nature. The monster finds himself in a very similar situation, facing the guilt of actually killing the ones that Frankenstein loved, and thus reducing his creator’s life to one without substance or anything to be emotionally attached to. Obviously, the mental punishment of guilt plays a large role in forming the “super-egos” of both protagonist and antagonist. Freud’s theories on the subconscious and conscience set the foundation for Shelley’s novel.

His “id” characterizes the monster’s initial struggle for survival in an unfamiliar world. His “ego” is played out by Frankenstein’s obsession with biological sciences and later creation of a monster. His “super-ego” encompasses the basic actions taken in the previous two, but also adds an ethical and emotionally conscious element to the consequences. It is apparent that Sigmund Freud’s structural model of the psyche almost perfectly outlines the basic psychological activities in and between the characters of Frankenstein.