Frankenstein Key Theme: Isolation and Companionship (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Isolation and companionship timeline

 The theme of isolation and companionship in key chapters of Frankenstein:

What are the elements of isolation and companionship in Frankenstein?

• Walton’s quest for adventure: Walton’s desire for exploration and discovery leads to his self-imposed isolation. He feels a deep loneliness during his expedition and yearns for a companion who can understand his ambitious nature. His isolation is temporarily alleviated when he meets Victor, who becomes the companion that Walton craves.

• Victor’s pursuit of knowledge: Victor’s intense passion for science causes him to neglect his loved ones, which results in his isolation. This isolation leads to despair and following William’s murder and Justine’s execution, he is overwhelmed with guilt. Further, he feels revulsion towards his own creation and is devastated by the death of his father as well as the murders of Elizabeth and Clerval. 

• Clerval’s friendship: Victor does experience companionship through his close friendship with Henry. Clerval has a positive effect on Victor as he has taught him to love nature and the “cheerful faces of children” again. Victor demonstrates his appreciation of Henry’s by calling him an “excellent friend” who loved him “sincerely”. Their friendship is juxtaposed with the dysfunctional relationship between Victor and the creature, and Victor’s subsequent isolation.

• The abandoned creature: The creature’s desperate need for a companion is central to its existence. He is abandoned by Victor and rejected by society, leading to his isolation and his feelings of immense loneliness. It is the creature’s isolation which leads to his desire for revenge.

The impact of isolation and companionship on characters

The theme of isolation and companionship is prevalent throughout the novella and has an impact on many characters. 

Why does Shelley use the theme of isolation and companionship in her novella?

1.  Setting and atmosphere 

• Establishes isolation as a destructive force and reinforces the need for human connection

• Creates an atmosphere of loneliness, suffering and alienation which creates empathy for the characters 

2. Plot driver 

• Influences key events in the novella as Victor’s self-imposed isolation leads to the creation of the creature  

3. Audience appeal 

• Highlights the human need for companionship and the consequences of isolation

4. Narrative device   

• Creates irony as Victor’s desire to create life leads to the loss of his loved ones

Exam-style questions on the theme of isolation and companionship

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of isolation and companionship: 

• How does Shelley use the consequences of isolation to highlight the dangers of obsession? (You could start with Victor’s self-imposed isolation and him neglecting his family and friends.)

• How does Shelley use the theme of companionship to highlight the human need for connection? (You could start with the creature’s yearning for companionship and his rejection by Victor and society.)