Chris Brown

Student ID: 11038484

139.275 Gothic
Assignment 1

Tutor: Dr Rahna Carusi

23rd December 2015

Chris Brown
139.275 Gothic
Dr Rahna Carusi
23rd December 2015

One of the themes that Mary Shellys book Frankenstein addresses is the
theme of recognition. This essay will look at three references and how
they add to the development of this theme. The first two references, I
desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me, whose eyes
would reply to mine. (p. 19) and He held up the curtain of the bed, and
his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. (p. 59), address
the longing for the recognition of another. The final reference, I shut my
eyes, involuntarily, and endeavoured to recollect what were my duties will
regard to this destroyer. (p. 221) will look at what recognition should be
given to another.

The first reference, I desire the company of a man who could sympathise
with me, whose eyes would reply to mine. (p. 19), takes place early in
the novel in Robert Waltons second letter to his sister. In this letter Walton
is expressing his desire for a friend for whom he could share his
experiences of success and failure with. Waltons lack of friendship is one
of the first instances in the book of a characters isolation. This isolation
foreshadows the eventual circumstances of both Frankenstein and his
monster. Waltons desire for a friend goes beyond just wanting someone
to share his time with, rather he is looking for someone who can match his
personality, who can lift his spirits when he is felling down and who can
match his excitement. The phrase, who could sympathise with me, whose
eyes would reply to mine. (p. 19) suggests that the connection with the
potential friend would be on a deeper level where there would be an
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Chris Brown
139.275 Gothic
Dr Rahna Carusi
23rd December 2015

understanding between the two where words would not have to be

exchanged to understand the other. The desire for this level of recognition
and desire from another person demonstrates the desire that we as a
people all share. It is this level recognition from another person that can
help counter the isolation that Walton and later Frankenstein and the
monster must face. Shellys use of phrases relating to eyes, along with the
notion that eyes are the gateway to the soul reinforce this idea that it is
this level of connect to another persons soul that Walton is seeking.

The second reference, He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if
eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. (p. 59), depicts Frankenstein
in his bed after he has created the monster when the monster comes in
search of him. At this stage of the story Frankenstein had fled his creation
upon giving it life and witnessing what he had accomplished, leaving the
monster alone in its early stages of life. In this instance the monsters
actions can be seen in two ways, one where it is seeking the recognition of
Frankenstein as a parent, and second as its creator in terms of a God. Both
these instances reflect human nature seek the approval of a parent when
one is young or to seek out a God to find answers and fulfilment. However
the monster is unable to find the recognition that it seeks leaving it in a
state of isolation that causes it to go in search of recognition of its
existence form another source. Again the use of eyes in the quote
suggests that recognition can be gained through a connection gained
when looking into someones eyes. Even though the features of the
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Chris Brown
139.275 Gothic
Dr Rahna Carusi
23rd December 2015

monster are horrifying and Frankenstein does not recognise it as a person,

the monsters attempt to connect with Frankenstein through eye contact
suggest that this may be an instinctual way to form a bond with another
creature and to gain its recognition.

The final reference, I shut my eyes, involuntarily, and endeavoured to

recollect what were my duties with regard to this destroyer. (p. 221.),
shows us the opposite of the previous examples where in this Walton must
decide whether to show the monster recognition after hearing its tale from
Frankenstein. This moment takes place right at the end of the story after
Frankenstein has died from his ordeals and the monsters comes to mourn
over his body. We see that Walton initially decides to show kindness to the
monster but eventually changes to dismissing it. The closing of Waltons
eyes shows a distinct change compared to the previous examples where
they were attempting to create a connection, whereas in this instance
closing his eyes would prevent that from happening. Despite Walton
seeking recognition from another he was unable to provide it to the
monster, suggesting that searching for recognition from another to
counter isolation is not the best approach as you cannot how someone
else will. This would suggest that both Walton and the monster would
have been better served if they had been able find the recognition they
were seeking within themselves. This idea could reflect back to the real
world suggesting that you do not need to seek the recognition of others in

Chris Brown
139.275 Gothic
Dr Rahna Carusi
23rd December 2015

order to combat isolation, and in turn be able to combat the loneliness

that accompanies isolation.

In conclusion we can see that first two references develop the theme of
recognition as being something that can establish a connection between
two people when they look into each other eyes as well as being
something that forms an understanding with another without having to
speak, and that this connection is something that all people strive for to
combat isolation. But in the last reference we can see that it is not always
the best idea to place the key to overcoming your isolation in someone
elses hands as you cannot know how they will respond, as so as a result it
would be better to find the recognition you seek within yourself before
building and establishing connections with others.

Word Count: 978