Loneliness and Companionship In Frankenstein

Everyone wants companionship. Everyone needs companionship. One could say it’s one of the essential needs for humanity. It is even seen in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with the creation and his creator. Some say that it is better to not continue life if there isn’t anyone to continue living that life with. This is why the literary analysis will be talking about the use of a companion in the story and how it is a requirement for living.

One of the most prominent scenes in the novel that shows the need for companionship is when the creature is watching the family in the cottage and develops the knowledge of what a family relationship was.

I think it is also notable that the creature learned an entire language in order to communicate with human beings. This large undertaking shows the large significance that the creature places on companionship. In addition, he spends time watching the family in the cottage and carefully calculates his introduction into their lives.

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The monster is insecure and takes his rejection very personally. He know feels that he is alone in the world, and has no purpose of living. He realizes that he wants that love and he becomes lonely. The need to be with someone and not have the feeling of loneliness in Frankenstein will strive anyone to go to the farthest lengths. Among watching this family he notices that people will judge you so he would approach the blind old man first so that he has a chance to explain himself and join in with the family.

The monster is not seen as fully human, as said by everyone calling him a monster or creature. This want for companionship further humanizes the creature and that makes us start wondering, how is something determined to be human? Companionship is seen from the very beginning of the book with Walton’s need for a friend, in evidence from the beginning of the novel, is met when he rescues and cares for Victor and listens to his tale.

Furthermore, companionship is seen as almost a struggle to have. Being judged based on appearances is a big challenge and everyone is seen doing that, judging. The monster saves a young girl from drowning but because gets shout out for being too scary looking. This prevents the monster from gaining that companionship and the reader sees the effects that happen because of that. The monster turns against humanity and swears vengeance. After Frankenstein refuses to make him a companion it seems that was the moment that made him snapped. It was as if he didn’t think it was a life worth living without someone to share it with. We see the companionship all the way back to the story of creation. Frankenstein as God and the monster as Adam. Only this time, there was no Eve for Adam.

Similarly, Frankenstein feels as if he would have no reason to live anymore as everyone he has loved and cared about has been killed by this beast. He explains that while his companions are dead and he is still alive, “their murdered also lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my weary existence”. Frankenstein no longer wants to be alive, as his life is meaningless without his friends and family that were killed by the monster. Both Frankenstein and the monster strive for companionship but since they stay alive for revenge is this emotion more powerful? They both claim they have no purpose of living without anyone, but continue to live regardless. So then I ask, is revenge perhaps a type of companionship as well? However, he desperately seeks revenge against the monster so the monster will pray for the crimes and the despair he has caused for Frankenstein. The only way to destroy the monster is if Frankenstein stays alive himself.

To conclude, the need for companionship is seen everywhere in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. One of humanity's basic needs is shown why it’s so important and how without it, there is no good reason to live. Shown with Frankenstein, with his loneliness and being judged, and with Frankenstein, with his family being murdered and going insane without them. It’s essential to have and you won’t have your happy ending without it.