“I have avoided the face of man; every sound of joy or complacency was torture for me; solitude was my only consolation: a deep, dark and deadly solitude” (74). Frankenstein by Mary Shelly was written during a time known as the Romantic Era. The recognized forms of literature that were then written had many distinctive themes, including that of isolation. The quote from protagonist Victor Frankenstein, at the top of the page, provides just a glimpse of a recurring theme throughout the book. Victor's own life is one in which he feels compelled to hide incidents and keep things a secret, like his creepy creation. Victor's intense, self-induced isolation is equivalent to that felt by the creature. Victor's interior, his hatred and his ugliness, are projected onto the monster and shown on his exterior. Isolation, whether emotional, physical, or social, and its effects, are key themes in the lives of Victor and the creature in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay As the narrator and main character of the book, Victor Frankenstein experiences mental and emotional isolation from society throughout the novel. For example, Victor spends many hours walking through the isolated mountains, saying "they raised me from all smallness of feeling, and although they did not take away my sorrow, they subdued and calmed it" (80). Victor further explains that the mountains are a form of retreat for him. He considers them a place of solitude where he can reflect on his inner emotions. Victor also refers to another way of relieving pain: "...after the rest of the family had retired for the night, I took the boat and spent many hours on the water" (75 ). Victor does it alone, in the middle of the night, which shows that he wants to be completely alone and in silence. He obviously doesn't want to reveal himself or express his emotions to anyone, which is why he retreats to a boat where no one can see him and where he is in total isolation. Furthermore, in Justine's harrowing trial, Victor is horribly disturbed as he explains by saying: "During this entire miserable travesty of justice, I suffered living torture. It was necessary to decide whether the result of my curiosity and my anarchic artifices would cause the death of two of my fellow men” (66). Victor is torn over the knowledge that can save his dear friend, but he chooses to keep it a secret because of his pride, believing no one will trust his story. This is a tragic display of friendship, but also an example of the isolation Victor causes, particularly when he has important information about his friend. Disregarding the fact that Victor doesn't act like an adult, he suffers from a severe case of emotional isolation and becomes a more morose character as a result. The monster that Victor creates also experiences and lives a life of social and physical isolation. As the monster reaches Victor at the summit of Mont Blanc, he begs him to “listen to my story; it is long and strange, and the temperature of this place does not suit your beautiful sensations; come to the cabin on the mountain” (85). Living on top of a snowy mountain demonstrates how isolated the monster is from civilization. He lives in harsh climatic conditions and has no one to talk to for miles around. As the monster recounts to Victor the immense physical trials of his first hours of existence, he relates how: "It was dark when I woke up; I was cold too, and half frightened, to..