Suffering in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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Suffering
In the novel Frankenstein, the tragic figure – Frankenstein’s monster acts as an instrument that inflicts suffering on others. Through this Monster, Mary Shelley depicts unalleviated anguish and pain caused by the societal life. This suffering emerges from the deprivation, emotional constraints, hardships, and physical loss associated with various characters in the novel. Frankenstein and his monster, in particular, bring suffering upon other characters thus contributing to the tragic vision.
To begin with, the novel paints Frankenstein as an obsessed character. Frankenstein’ obsessions in reanimating life and results of his success inflict pain on other characters around him. He creates a creature in himself and causes it pain. This, subsequently makes the monster in him to directly cause pain and suffering to Frankenstein’s family and friends. All these sufferings are attributed to Frankenstein’s actions as a result of ignorance and pride. Additionally, in the novel, Frankenstein lives as a tragic hero in pursuing knowledge and achievements which causes him pains in the end.
Using the resultant anguish, Shelley develops a tragic vision in Frankenstein’s life. According to this tragic vision, the pursuit of knowledge foreshadowed to lead inevitable sufferings and cruelty rather than glory. This is evidenced especially in the project of creating a monster where Frankenstein appears very determined and excited but once the creation comes to life he is faced with utter disgust.

Frankenstein says, “When I thought of him I gnashed my teeth…” (Shelley 103). This shows that Frankenstein is not happy.
Additionally, in the quest for vengeance and desperation, the monster kills a young boy, William. The chain of destructions Frankenstein’s caused is a depiction of horrific implications to other people around the Doctor’s life. Shelley depicts Frankenstein as hero formed by a tragic figure especially as he faces downfall from dignity to hating what his mind conceived and created. Frankenstein goes on to hunt the monster and eliminate it from the world but he does not achieve the redemption, and the journey kills him. His death further exemplifies the suffering caused by pursuing glory with obsessions.

Work Cited
Shelley, Mary “Frankenstein” Planetebook.com, 1818 https://www.planetebook.com/frankenstein/