The Role of Nature in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, Book Review Example

Mary Shelley released “Frankenstein” novel in 1818. It tells the story of a peculiar scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein makes an incongruous creature in an eccentric technical experiment. “Frankenstein” incorporates features of the Romantic Movement and the Gothic novel. It is one of the earliest instances of science fiction. “Frankenstein” is gothic in nature going by the elements portrayed in the text but the text also brings out romantic elements. The text fills the readers with mixed emotions that reveal the action of the characters. The reader falls into a position that he or she finds hard to sympathize with the innocent. Throughout the narration, the reader develops feelings for of what is happening in the text. The book stands out as one of great work literature to have ever come into creation. The main character makes a conscious decision and alters contemporary science experiments to create amazing results. “Frankenstein” has had a huge impact on popular culture and literature. Throughout “Frankenstein,” Shelley provides the reader with numerous suggestions concerning the relationship between man and nature. Nature plays a massive role in the novel; it has a huge impact on the structure of the story and development of its characters.

The ordinary descriptions in “Frankenstein” are equivalent to the finest in the Romantic literature Movement. Mary Shelley displays nature and its divine magnificence with some unique insights of a talented writer. Shelley intentionally puts side by side the dignified image of nature with the dreadful spectacle of an artificially made creature and his shocking actions. This sharp difference makes the reader contemplate on the consequences of going against the set rules of nature. Shelley’s message to humankind is vivid and clear; one should not play with nature if they are not prepared to face the consequences. Human beings should struggle to live like ordinary humans. Any effort to alter any rule of nature can have very grim and dangerous effects. Preservation of nature is a preservation of self. Shelley’s message is evident throughout “Frankenstein”; the enjoyments of unheard secrets of nature are when they remain as secrets. Efforts to go above the human limits can have disastrous impacts like in the case of Frankenstein. Shelley reminds the reader that regarding nature, human beings should not dig deep. The questions on mortality, creation and extinction all fall under God’s domain, not under humans.

Victor Frankenstein’s incontrollable impulse to discover the firmly held secrets of nature symbolizes the commencement of his downfall: “I have always described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature” (Shelley 34). Frankenstein takes a seat to test the power and strength of God by handing over, “life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man.” The ever-observant eye of nature maintains a firm hold on Frankenstein, “the moon gazed on my midnight labors, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding places” (Shelley 37). This shows that Frankenstein is not alone. Frankenstein underrates the authority of nature and takes part in a disastrous mistake of employing extreme self-confidence on his own technical information. Natural sceneries in “Frankenstein” assist Shelley in enhancing the main theme of nature, consequences of prohibited information and outrageous effects of wrong deeds.

Nature is evident throughout the novel “Frankenstein”. It is visible in all its magnificence and divergences (Bloom 17). Natural sceneries have proven to possess healing commands. The natural loveliness of St. Petersburg gestures Robert Walton continues his journey towards the North Pole. The memorable attractiveness of the lakes and mountains comes into contrast with the short-lived nature the existence of humanity and sorrow. Nature overwhelms humanity with its enormous existence. The comprehension of an individual’s insignificance in the eyes of nature’s massive physique and enormous influence applies an accurately chastening consequence.

Human self-esteem and arrogance give way to an accepting of the incalculable supremacies of nature. The consciousness creates an innermost realization, which reconciles human sorrows and misery. Victor Frankenstein’s injured soul contributes to the strength of the hills and the pureness of the water bodies by permitting his mind’s eye to ponder on them. Simultaneously, the abandoned icy polar sea with its breakable icy coating emphasizes the internal anguish and flimsiness of Frankenstein’s worried observance. The unending gorge and the sterility of icy sea foretell little confidence of reclamation for Frankenstein and other human beings.

Shelley’s “Frankenstein” incorporates all the elements existing in nature, which the reader has the chance to observe dark Romantic literature. Sceneries with a nightmarish appearance have juxtaposition against the interesting and peaceful environment. Mortality, annihilation, and the subsequent loss of hope force the main character, Frankenstein, to proceed in despairing and dangerous journeys. Throughout such useless and insignificant maneuvers, the only sigh of relief that sprouts from the main character’s manner is from nature. Henry’s reaction to the existence of nature is much more natural and unprompted than other characters since due to his internal virtuousness. His unadulterated thoughts allow Henry to relish in nature on a much better scale and attitude.

Shelley chooses the natural surroundings in “Frankenstein” carefully and interweaves them into the very core of the novel. Nature plays a very significant part in increasing the influence of the novel and advancement of the story’s theme and characters. Frankenstein faces the strength and power of nature in person. Shelley writes, “As I stood at the door, on a sudden I beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oak which stood about twenty yards from our house; and so soon as the dazzling light vanished, the oak had disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump” (Shelley 22).

Mary Shelley definitely provides a clarion demand to return to nature, for human kind’s own benefits. “Frankenstein” carefully and craft fully provides a dissimilarity between the beauty of nature with the viciousness of the Frankenstein creature. The dissimilarity between nature and fabricated is unambiguous and frightening. While the monster is objectionable and detestable, nature’s wrath is peaceful and calming. Bloom looks into nature as an eventual foundation of peacetime, consolation and a solution to all difficulties of humanity (Bloom 33). Greenblatt, in contrast, holds the belief that the role of nature in “Frankenstein” reflects man’s own emotions. Mary Shelley has created a depiction that nature serves a combined role as a foundation of encouragement and as an uninterested article if the need arises (Greenblatt and Adams 23).

Throughout the novel “Frankenstein,” there are instances when Frankenstein’s disturbed observance is unsuccessful to any comfort from nature. Disturbed by the vision of his atrocious formation, Frankenstein hurries outside “drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky,” (Shelley 36) and agitatedly holds his fire for the dawning. When Alphonse leads Victor on a journey to get rid of his sorrow and grief, the effect is short-lived: “Victor wanders alone toward the valley of Chamounix. The beautiful scenery cheers him somewhat, but his respite from grief is short-lived.” (Shelley 33) Victor Frankenstein’s original eagerness to make way through the “fortifications and impediments” (Shelley 34) circulating the “citadel” (Shelley 34) of nature is quickly substituted by terror. The atrocity of his formation makes him frightened and the understanding that his creature has murdered his young brother disturbs him. The world of science has zero to provide him in this time of misery.

The killing of William and therefore the killing of the blameless Justine weigh deeply upon the mind of Frankenstein. He turns to the mountains to seek out comfort. Had Frankenstein not had the “insensible to the charms of nature” (Shelley 39) to start with, had Frankenstein’s soul been thriving to the fragile shades of nature to start out with, Frankenstein could have rescued himself and his family from adversary.

Critical analysts suggest the fact that Frankenstein’s original withdrawal from nature converts him into a piece of a creature himself. The manner in which he permits Justine to face an unfair demise without putting any true impression of confrontation and his scorching need for vengeance make him less than human. He does not remember that every deed has equivalent and differing response. He interferes with nature and nature interferes with him. Had he remembered nature, it would have remembered him.

Frankenstein’s affection towards nature emerges too late that a lot is already lost. William dies and Justine is nowhere in existence, when the comprehension dawns: “The weight upon my spirit was sensibly lightened as I plunged yet deeper in the ravine of Arve. The immense mountains and precipices that overhung me on every side, the sound of the river raging among the rocks, and the dashing of the waterfalls around spoke of a power mighty as Omnipotence—and I ceased to fear or to bend before any being less almighty than that which had created and ruled the elements” (Shelley 88). Therefore, nature plays the role of a healing agent for Frankenstein even though it is too late. Frankenstein’s get-together with nature oozes self-confidence and courage. Nature seals his belief and trust in God and His continuous well-informed authority. About humanity, nature possesses the strength and ability to lessen even the bothered emotional states of a creature.

After falling subject to a dreadfully icy and severe winter, the Frankenstein creature breathes a sigh of relief at the arrival of spring season. When Victor throws away the creature, he has an engulfment of feelings of depression and confusion. Immediately, he feels a new flow, a “sensation of pleasure” (Shelley 71) when he takes sight of the shining full moon and its soothing bright light. Left alone by its creator, the Frankenstein creature also seeks asylum in the arms of nature.

Momentary or transitory, comfort and harmony come to Victor Frankenstein only in the arms of nature. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” does not assure freedom through contact with nature but it most definitely indicates the risk of dropping one’s human individuality by going away from it. Throughout “Frankenstein,” Shelley provides the reader with numerous suggestions concerning the relationship between man and nature. Nature plays a massive role in the novel; it has a huge impact on the structure of the story and development of its characters.

Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. New York: Bloom’s Literary Criticism, 2009. Print

Greenblatt, Stephen and M H Abrams. The Norton anthology of English literature. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. Irvine: Saddleback Educational Pub., 2010. Print