Victor Frankenstein came from a very loving family. His family and friends cherished him but he was unable to reciprocate this love and affection after the creation of the monster. Throughout the novel, Victor is showed as a selfish person. Only thinking of himself before he realizes how is actions affect the people close to him. This also explains why, other than how ugly the monster was, Victor was unable to love his creation. He doesn’t understand how to put others above himself and his own needs. From the moment Frankenstein’s monster was created, it faced many difficulties such as rejection and the feeling of being alone. Not only does the monster’s own creator judge him but he isn’t accepted by society either. Because of this, the monster ultimately just wants to feel loved. At one point in the novel the monster tells Frankenstein,
“Believe me Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but I am not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me” (Shelly 107).
This goes to show that interaction with others is crucial and the lack of it makes the monster really go mad.
Another way that proves love is a strong theme in this novel is the relationship between Safie and Felix. Felix was a man living in a cottage with his father and daughter Agatha. Safire then moves in with the DeLaceys without knowing the language that they speak. The relationship that Safire and Felix end up having is romantic. At the beginning of their relationship Safie’s father wasn’t happy with the idea of his daughter marrying Felix, but she realized it is important to be with who you love if it makes you happy. Felix taught Safie how to speak the language and some history. The monster watched and learned as well and realized that he looks up to that relationship because he wants to be accepted. The monster views Safie as the human version of himself. She is different, unable to communicate and is a foreigner. The monster begins to think that Safie’s warm welcome into the cottagers life could be like what it would be if he was accepted into the family. He hopes that they will be able to get over his appearance and see the good in him like they did for Safie. However, he is disappointed when they react like his creator and the villagers did.
In the novel, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton can be viewed as characters that are very similar. Frankenstein, a man that lives to learn and adventure finds himself connecting with the captain of a ship, Robert Walton. Both Victor and Walton want to gain as much knowledge as possible and won’t stop until they get all the information they need. “I have often attributed my attachment to, my passionate enthusiasm for, the dangerous mysteries of ocean to that production of the most imaginative of modern poets. There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand. I am practically industrious– painstaking, a workman to execute with perseverance and labour–but besides this there is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions I am about to explore. (Letter 2.4) Walton is explaining his desire to travel the world and it shows how his mentality is very similar to Frankenstein’s. Their friendship is platonic from the start. Although they were both older adult men Victor played a mentor role in friendship. He tells Walton about his experiences so that he doesn’t makes the same mistakes such as creating the monster and letting him go free.
“… Clerval called forth the better feelings of my heart; he again taught me to love the aspect of nature, and the cheerful faces of children. Excellent friend, how sincerely you did love me, and endeavor to elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own. A selfish pursuit had cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection warmed and opened my senses; I became the same happy creature who, a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care… Henry rejoiced in my gaiety, and sincerely sympathised in my feelings: he exerted himself to amuse me, while he expressed the sensations that filled his soul” (Shelly 29)
In the novel, Henry is one of the characters who is very compassionate. He does everything he can to make others around him feel better, especially Victor. This caring friendship makes Victor realize how important it was in order for him to have a friend that could cheer him up. Without Henry’s help Victor’s depression would’ve never gotten better.