I noticed a parallel while reading. Often times, people are faced with a choice that questions their values. The specific values I am referencing are personal relationships versus dreams and goals. It is sometimes very difficult to maintain and actively pursue both. Sometimes we must focus on our education or our careers, meanwhile our relationships take a hit. This is often discussed by the very successful, athletes, business people, performers, etc. There is a seemingly universal struggle between ambition and relationships.
Our main character has made his choice, “I wished, as it were, to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, should be completed” (Shelly 30). He has been consumed by the desire to accomplish his dreams, so much so, as to wish away the distraction of emotion.
Do you find yourself solidly on one side of battle, or are you in a constant struggle? How do you think this internal conflict, or lack thereof, will come into play as the story unfolds?
Its tough for me because I draw from my experiences and my experiences have yet to be that extreme where I make a stark decision to prioritize something over my physical health or relationships. However, I have seen it a number of times in media, both fiction and nonfiction media. I have witnessed athletes first hand, who despite not getting paid millions of dollars to play, will risk everything just to be a better athlete. A lot of these people would never ever get paid to play their sport professionally. I think that Victor Frankenstein’s obsession will lead him to lose strength in his relationships, and upon its conclusion he may even come to regret his commitment to science.
As with all things, balance is the key to this. A healthy bit of obsession is often necessary to achieve one’s goals, especially in endeavors such as science. However, Victor’s mistake was carrying his obsession so far that he left his humanity behind. Science solely for science’s sake is dangerous.
In my own life, I sometimes find myself nearing that same pathway. It’s very important to stay grounded and not get swept up in a new pursuit to the detriment of the rest of your life.
As for the rest of the novel, I think Victor very quickly will not have to choose between personal and scientific as the two become one.
Something I thought of when I was reading your post was this triangle a friend showed me at the start of college that shows something on each of the points (good grades, sleep, and social life). She then said to pick two. I feel like that is a good summary of college but also how we must pick and chose what we want and sacrifice the rest. I think victor did this when he slaved over his monster for two years and dropped his family and friends back home as collateral. I feel like I am constantly feeding into this struggle as well and I think the choices victor makes will continue to have increasingly bad reactions for him.