Daddy Issues Impacting Victor Frankenstein

Introduction

Victor Frankenstein's parental issues, particularly with his father, greatly impact his turn away from humanity and sympathy. His strained relationship shapes his approach to life and renders him less susceptible to negative influences. This is in contrast to the monster's more generalized parental problems, which are based on societal morals rather than directly attributed to his father. The neglectful and abusive nature of Victor's relationship with his father during his formative years shapes his brain and leads to negative consequences in his adult personality. This essay examines how neglect and abandonment, influenced by parental relationships, drive Victor's motivations and decisions throughout the novel.

Early Influences and Family Dynamics

Many aspects of the character of Victor Frankenstein can be traced back to his early years and the family dynamics that were in place at the time. Victor Frankenstein’s parents were Alphonse Frankenstein and Caroline Beaufort. Alphonse married Caroline when she was still very young. Caroline’s father had always been indifferent toward the son-in-law, although the young couple kept trying to please him. They experienced great happiness when they gave birth to two sons, Ernest and William, but their joy was short-lived. Not even a year later, a baby girl was born with a severe birth defect. As she lay close to dying, Caroline prayed to be granted health for her daughter. Her husband’s father did not understand why she would pray for what he deemed an inevitable death and soon after died. Caroline now had a true friend in Alphonse and was very happy. A man who desired her riches without being concerned about her, as her father had, was out of the picture and she was committed to creating a loving home. A daughter, Elizabeth Lavenza, was the result. Caroline was guilt-ridden at undergoing an accidental pregnancy and, being 17 years old, she safeguarded her daughter against the temptation of sin. Elizabeth was brought up by nuns almost from the moment she was born, which imparted particular virtues into her that remained until the end of her years, despite their frequent misfortunes.

Through these details, it is possible to conclude that both parents valued emotional availability. This is an aspect that would later be sought in Alphonse’s parenting of Victor Frankenstein. The brother, William, was Alphonse’s favorite. His son Victor adored him, and the influence of their interactions during childhood should not be ignored. More importantly, after Ernest left home for the armed forces, William became everything to Alphonse. In the same way that Caroline created a family with Alphonse, Elizabeth and Victor created a special connection of emotional support to William. Victor, who was also enjoying the rare skill of motherly support, began to look for a father figure to earn his love, respect, and support. However, this was not being fulfilled by an attachment to his own father, Alphonse, and he desired to see him as an affectionate man so that their bond could be deepened. The circumstances that were discussed previously suggest that Alphonse falls short of Victor’s expectations, and this inaccessible desire is a contributing factor in the development of Victor’s insecurities with regard to family relationships. As a result, his character is one marked by numerous insecurities as well as objectification at times, instigated by his tendency to view other characters in terms of what they can offer to him. As a child, Caroline preached God’s word to Elizabeth and Victor, reminding them of what Adam was like, telling them of the time when he began to evolve. At that time, Victor with straw-like hair that was to be cherished every moment.

Psychological Effects of Daddy Issues

During my Frankenstein and psychology course, my classmates changed my perspective on Victor Frankenstein. They believe that Victor's emotional baggage is the cause of his behavior. I have always focused on his daddy issues in my papers. Victor's father leaving him goes beyond typical daddy issues. Further analysis of his relationships reveals how his abandonment issues shape his life and relationships. Victor's feelings of inadequacy stem from being abandoned and his pursuit to make up for his father's desertion destroys him. Attachment theory, which explores the types of attachments children form, is relevant to understanding Victor's character. Despite being about children, we can apply it to Victor. He most likely falls under the ambivalent attachment type. His experiences align with the characteristics of an ambivalent attachment, such as irritability and colicky behavior. This is evident in the endless crying nights of both Frankenstein and Elizabeth's minor sibling.

Victor Frankenstein's Actions and Decisions

Throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein makes a number of tangible and influential decisions and actions, all of which stem from his early trauma and issues with his father. Victor’s constant, obsessive pursuit of knowledge reflects his ambitions to penetrate the secrets of nature and his desire to achieve one of the greatest possible powers. This ambition soon results in harmful and alienating consequences for him and the people he loves. Particularly, he receives the cold neglect of his father and feels similarly isolated by the tortures of a living hell. These events and emotions highlight his previous childhood trauma and underscore his continual, desperate quest to finally satisfy his desires. Even once his creation is realized, and he deals with the emotional and psychological tolls of his parenting, Victor’s ambitions and behaviors are never forgetful or divorced from his early experiences.

These psychological elements will later evidence themselves in Victor’s erratic behavior toward the monster and serve as psychological threads that directly impact and influence the people around him. He creates his creature out of panic and a need to escape his guilt. Later, he finds himself seized by a frenzy and driven to seek my own views, hoping he can see this monster descend into agony. This internal conflict, driven by his earlier trauma, worsens as his family and friends are killed off by the monster. This is precisely what leads to his tragedy; his inability to see the monster as anything but a reflection of his own ambition and traumas leads to his downfall. Although Victor acts rashly and irresponsibly, he never does so in isolation. His characters and relationships are inextricably linked to the people he loves and loses. Only from his previous traumatic experiences with his own father can his behavior and his ultimate isolation be truly understood.

Conclusion and Reflections

In conclusion, Victor Frankenstein's issues with his father impact his development. Shortening his father's presence and leveling their age gap reveals Frankenstein's early tendencies and his refusal to be subjected to authority. The focus on romantic bonds highlights Victor's shift from the father's place to Elizabeth. Psychologies show how family dynamics shape character.

Both literary and psychological approaches contribute to understanding each other. Victor Frankenstein's family relationships reflect on various aspects of human identity. The story highlights the relevance of Romanticism, the natural world, and Gothic elements in contemporary society. The psychological impact of family life is a significant subtext. Exploring the influence of father issues on other characters in Frankenstein would be intriguing.