Theme of Betrayal in Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a book that dives into lots of deep themes, and betrayal is a biggie. This essay's gonna look at how betrayal shows up in the story and what kind of mess it leaves behind. By checking out what Victor Frankenstein, the Creature, and some other folks do, we can see how central betrayal is to everything. It's like this ticking time bomb that affects both those who betray and those who get betrayed.

Victor's Big Mistake

Let's start with Victor Frankenstein himself. He's got one of the most glaring cases of betrayal in the whole novel. After he brings his Creature to life, he’s immediately disgusted by how it looks and just bails on it. He leaves it all alone in a world that's anything but friendly. Victor even admits to his own freak-out moment when he says, "I beheld the wretch — the miserable monster whom I had created" (Shelley, 60). It's like he can't even deal with what he's done, so he ghosts the Creature.

This screw-up on Victor's part leads to all kinds of trouble. The Creature starts out just wanting some love and friendship but gets none of that. It turns bitter and vengeful instead. The killings? Yeah, they’re pretty much a direct response to being ditched by Victor. So not only does Victor mess up the Creature’s life, but his own too—along with everyone else’s.

The Creature Strikes Back

But hey, it's not just Victor who's pulling shady moves here. The Creature isn't innocent either; it pulls its own stunts in the realm of betrayal. Remember when it asks Victor for a companion? It promises it'll go away if this wish is granted. But what happens? Victor gets cold feet and destroys this potential mate.

This new betrayal isolates the Creature even more from society. Its reaction is fiery, as seen when it says, "Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you" (Shelley, 169). By breaking the trust again, Victor sends the Creature on a path of revenge—talk about a vicious cycle.

Betrayals All Around

The plot thickens when we look at some secondary characters too. Take Elizabeth, for example—Victor's fiancée. She's kind of left hanging because Victor puts his science stuff before their relationship. In her letter to him, she pours out her heartache: "But in giving an account of the progress of my intellect, I must not omit to relate my unhappy breach with my only companion" (Shelley, 101). Prioritizing science over love spells doom for her and counts as another form of betrayal.

And let's talk about societal norms for a sec. Victor's dive into forbidden knowledge—creating life itself—is seen as betraying nature's order. This act doesn't go unpunished; both he and others around him suffer for this rebellious move.

A Chain Reaction

Wrapping things up: betrayal isn’t just tossed in for drama—it really drives the whole story forward in Frankenstein. Victor ditching his own creation sets off a domino effect that results in chaos and sorrow all around. Elizabeth's fate shows how even side characters aren't safe from treachery's grasp.

This book serves as a wake-up call about how damaging betrayal can be—not just personally but also socially. You gotta own up to your actions or face some grim consequences! Really makes you wonder: How many real-life relationships could crumble under similar strains?

References

• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Penguin Classics, 2003.
• Baldick, Chris. "In Frankenstein’s Shadow." Oxford University Press, 1987.
• Lowe-Evans, Mary. "Critical Essays on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein." G.K Hall & Co., 1998.
• Mellor, Anne K.. "Mary Shelley: Her Life and Works". Routledge Library Editions: Romanticism Volume 1
• SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Frankenstein.” SparkNotes.com