In Frankenstein, Victor's dual diagnosis of monomania and antisocial personality disorder bridges the historical gap between early eighteenth century and modern society's perception of insanity, while the attribution of these two diagnoses can enable the audience to sympathize with Victor.
However I argue that that the real “monster” of the story is in fact Victor Frankenstein who is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and that the “monster” is really just a delusions that Victor uses to cope with the idea that he in fact is the killer of the story.
Victor Frankenstein is consumed by guilt almost constantly as the book progresses. Whenever something causes him to become exceptionally guilty, he becomes ill. The illness allows him to temporarily escape from any responsibility he has and also to talk about his guilt, soothing his conscience.
What is Victor's illness in Frankenstein Chapter 5?
But, weakened by months of work and shock at the horrific being he has created, he immediately falls ill with a nervous fever that lasts several months. Henry nurses him back to health and, when Victor has recovered, gives him a letter from Elizabeth that had arrived during his illness.
Victor did not kill Henry Clerval, and yet he feels overwhelming guilt because he created the monster who did kill him. When he realizes that Clerval has been killed, he goes into a deep physical illness as if his body cannot take the weight of his psychological trauma.
How does Victor recover from his illness in Frankenstein?
Victor's recovery really begins after he writes a response to Justine's letter. He studies languages with Henry until he is healthy enough to return home since the thought of studying science makes him feel ill again.
In Chapter 5 of Frankenstein, the creature comes to life. Victor is horrified and flees into the night, falls into a fever, and has to be nursed back to health by Henry Clerval.
'Seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed. '
Victor finds relief from his isolation when he reads Elizabeth's news of his family, studies languages with Clerval, and tours the outdoors with his friend. The resulting improvement in Victor's morale supports the idea that human contact is vital for health and happiness.
When Victor sees the body, he does indeed react with horror, for the victim is Henry Clerval, with the black marks of the monster's hands around his neck. In shock, Victor falls into convulsions and suffers a long illness. Victor remains ill for two months.
Victor seeks to use science for the greatest human good: to conquer death, but his tragic downfall is brought about by his all too human flaws, or hamartia. He's ambitious and proud, tampering with forces beyond his control, presuming to violate the laws of nature and the authority of God.
These personality traits eventually lead her to her death when she sacrifices her own health to care for Elizabeth when she becomes stricken with scarlet fever. Caroline's dying wish is for her son Victor and adopted daughter Elizabeth to marry, and that Elizabeth take on a motherly role after her death.
Victor is overwhelmed with despair due to the horrific outcome of his actions, which he had once considered to be so high-minded. To avoid further memories, the Frankensteins flee to their holiday home at Belrive. Yet Victor's suicidal impulses remain and he is driven to seek vengeance on the creature.
Mary Shelley's original novel never gives the monster a name, although when speaking to his creator, Victor Frankenstein, the monster does say "I ought to be thy Adam" (in reference to the first man created in the Bible).
Frankenstein experiences drastic changes in mood, which can be clinically diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The severe mood changes that Victor Frankenstein experiences are not unexplainable. One minute he is completely fine and content, and the next he can be completely depressed or overly excited about an event.
Victor feels extreme guilt for his part in the murder of William and the execution of Justine. He believes that both of these deaths are his fault. He is unable to sleep, he is restless, and he is tortured by guilt. Victor's father notices Victor is unwell and believes it is due to the loss of William and Justine.
Henry Clerval, Victor Frankenstein's close friend, helps the main character overcome months of fever in Chapter 5. To conceal the illness from his family, Henry takes on the responsibility of caring for sick Victor.
Chapter 23 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the climax of Victor's and the creature's conflict as the creature murders Victor's new bride on her wedding night.
I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames.
With his final words, Frankenstein even takes back his earlier warning about the dangers of too much ambition: “Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed.” Rather than learning from his mistakes, Frankenstein compounds one mistake after another, leading to his death.
While Victor initially created the creature to resolve the neglect he received as a child, his over-ambitiousness ultimately prevents him from empathizing with his creation, so he subsequently abandons it. Furthermore, Victor abandons his creation because of his realization of what the creature personifies.
Why does Frankenstein destroy the Monster's female companion? Frankenstein decides that he has a moral duty to destroy the female companion he is making for the Monster. He realizes that even if the Monster is not innately evil, he can't be sure the female companion won't turn out to be evil.
What first death does Victor feel responsible for?
Victor catches sight of an entity that looks like the monster. He immediately comprehends that it was responsible for the death of William. Consequently, Victor realizes he is accountable for the monster's actions since it was he who created it.
