Morin 1

Amelia Morin
Mrs. Jurczyk
Lit 1011 ECE
April 7th, 2016
Frankenstein One Page Essay
The Modern Narcissus
After the initial letters written by R. Walton, the remainder of the first volume of Mary
Shelleys Frankenstein illustrates some of Victor Frankensteins symptoms of pathological
narcissism.
Pathological Narcissism is characterized by exaggerated feelings of self-importance, a
sense of entitlement, grandiosity in beliefs and behaviour, and a strong need for admiration, sans
criticism of any kind. As a child, Victor Frankensteins exaggerated self-importance leads him to
expect complete submission from his friends and family, as exemplified when he claims that his
family is so close-knit because his family goes to great lengths to satisfy each others wishes, but
his wishes were more often fulfilled because Victor was the oldest child, and the destined
successor to all [his fathers] labors and utility (Shelley 19). Another characteristic of
pathological narcissism is the strong need for admiration, without criticism from peers. In
Volume One, Chapter 2, Victor possesses only one friend, the noble-spirited Henry Clerval,
because Victor believes himself to be totally unfitted for the company of strangers (Shelley 27,
Line 9), His belief that he would not do well in the company of strangers stems from this need
for admiration; and his haste to surround himself with old familiar faces (Shelley 27, Line 10)
demonstrates his inability to withstand criticism. Yet another of Victor Frankensteins narcissistic
symptoms is the overpowering sense of entitlement, as if the world owes him something, when it

Morin 2
does not. Frankensteins need for power extends to his dreams; In his dreams, he dreams that he
holds the godlike power to create life from lifeless matter. Frankenstein goes on to iterate, What
had been the study and desire of men since the creation of the world was now within my grasp
(Shelley 32, Line 16). His newfound power of creation is what moulds him into Mary Shelleys
subtitle, The Modern Prometheus. By bringing to humanity a power that it should not possess, he
ultimately completes his progression into full-blown narcissism.
Like the greek gods, Narcissus and Prometheus, Frankenstein is bound to his fate as
punishment for his vanity and his hunger for forbidden power.