Frankestein.

Topic:

Why are there so many references to sickness and fever in Frankestein? Trace these references throughout the novel. What  broader theme might Shelley be expressing.

Frankenstein was a novel written by the English author, Mary Shelley. The book told the story of Victor Frankenstein who created a grotesque creature. After bringing him to life, Victor felt guilty of creating a monster.The creature was hideous, and he was rejected by society and by  Victor. In consequence, he became spiteful and started to kill Frankenstein’s relatives, and friends. Later, the monster found his creator , and begged him for a companion of his own kind. Victor agreed, but destroyed his work  in revenge of  the creature for  killing  his best friend, and his bride Elizabeth. After his father died of grief, Frankenstein chased the  creature to the North Pole. Victor finally died aboard Walton’s ship. and the monster jumped from the ship,and landed on a floating slab of ice.

In the novel there are many references  to sickness and fever because in the industrial revolution  they were  prevalent. Tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid fever, and pneumonia were the leading causes of death.They were the result of poor sanitation in which people lived and worked. For this  reason, the author explored the idea of  sickness, and fever.

For instance, Frankenstein fell ill after every traumatic event: after creating the Creature, after Clerval was murdered, and after Elizabeth was murdered. This was a sign that Victor could not deal with extreme distress. Illness  definitely showed the vulnerable, and weak side of a man who felt guilty about the life he created.Shelley might be pointing out that Victor could not bear the consequences of creating a monster.Besides, he had lack of ability to face problems and accept responsibility.

The only thing which seemed to make Frankenstein to recover is the promise of spring. Nature was given the ability to cure.Not only did  it cure him, but also it allowed Victor to recognize the fact that consistency existed in the world.Therefore, nature was shown as a healing power of human illness.

To sum up, Victor could have avoided  a lot of harm if he had confronted the creature with a degree of compassion toward it.After all, the creature never asked to be created; it was Victor's obsession to play to be God that led him to break with nature, and create life.Furthermore, Victor´s diseases might be consequence of a horribly guilty mind which wanted to escape from his reality through the diseases.