How does Mary Shelly present the themes of rejection and alienation in the novel 'Frankenstein'?

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How does Mary Shelly present the themes of rejection and alienation in the novel ‘Frankenstein’?

Mary Shelly uses various ways to present the themes of rejection and alienation in the novel ‘Frankenstein’. Rejection and alienation are important themes in Frankenstein because they are things that a lot of characters experience. For example The line “Yet you my creator, detest and spurn me” suggests that the Monster is being rejected by the person who brought him into this world. This is effective because the Monster is being rejected by the person who supposed to love him the most. This makes us sympathise with the Monster because it is like being rejected by his father.

At the start of the novel we see that Walton is alienated. This is shown when Walton writes to Margaret saying “But I have one want which I never yet been able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes would reply to mine. You may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend.” This is effective because Walton is saying that he has no one to share his feelings with, no one to talk to that truly understands him. He says that he can share his thoughts and feelings on paper put it is no compromise for a real friend. Shelly makes us feel sorry for Walton because he is longing for a true friend. This is shown through the quote “I have no friend” and, “there will be none to participate my joy.” This is effective because it is saying he is achieving what he wants to achieve but he has no one to share this with, which makes his achievements only half as good.

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Later we hear Victor Frankenstein’s story. At the start he isn’t alienated or rejected because he has all of his family around him and he has agreed to marry Elizabeth and welcomed into society. However when he tries to create the monster, he alienates himself by being obsessed with his creation and neglecting his family by isolating himself in his laboratory. Shelley shows this in the language she uses by making Frankenstein obsessed with creating the monster.

However, possibly the biggest example of rejection and alienation is through the monster. When he is first created, Frankenstein said that ...

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This essay has an okay structure. For once the introduction doesn't include unnecessary contextual information about Shelley as a writer, but looks specifically at the question. This will please the examiner, as at GCSE level most introductions don't address the question and engage with the arguments. However, there seems to be three conclusions here. Paragraphs starting "I think" aren't strong as it shows a personal-based viewpoint, rather than being driven by analysis and evidence. These last three paragraphs and their ideas are okay, but I'd recommend either putting them in one conclusion, or dispersing the ideas throughout the analysis so it doesn't seem you are making a lot of comments at the end. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are fine.

The analysis here is basic. As mentioned above, it's not good enough at GCSE to have an extensive knowledge of the plot. This essay's core is simply retelling what happens. For example "He says that he can share his thoughts and feelings on paper put it is no compromise for a real friend" doesn't analyse techniques at all. There needs to be focus on the language, imagery, form and structure used. These are the sections that examiners are wanting to be analysed, so if you can try and write a paragraph for each in relevance to the question you'll be doing well. This essay shows potential in the way it discusses how "Shelly makes us feel sorry for Walton because he is longing for a true friend." but this needs to be taken further and look at literature beyond the plot. There is some perceptive debate, looking at how alienation and rejection are effective "because we all may experience these feelings sometime and so will identify with them" but I just feel with analysis these comments would feel less unfounded.

The essay responds to the task at an average level. Yes, there is exploration of how rejection and alienation shape the plot, but the crux of this question lies in "how does Shelley present the themes". There is little analysis here beyond saying what happens in the novel, and no appreciation of the techniques Shelley manipulates. Examiners will not give credit for an extensive knowledge of the novel, unless this is intertwined with analysis of Shelley's techniques. I don't think there's enough focus on the reader response, either. Although it is not explicitly asked, you should always discuss why Shelley has used the above themes, and explore how her techniques directly affect the way her novel is received and interpreted.