An existence of Victor Frankenstein's life in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

AN EXISTENCE OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN’S LIFE IN FRANKENSTEIN _{BY MARY SHELLEY}

THESIS

Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Barchelor Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities State Islamic

University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya

By:

Risqi Maydia Putri Reg Number. A73213126

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA 2017

AN EXISTENCE OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN’S LIFE IN

FRANKENSTEIN _BY MARY SHELLEY

A THESIS

Submitted as partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities States Islamic

University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya

Risqi Maydia Putri Reg. Number : A73213126

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA 2017

ABSTRACT

Putri, Risqi.M. 2017.An Existence of Victor Frankenstein’s life in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. English Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Advisor : Abu Fanani, S.S, M.Pd.

This thesis aims to analyse a classic science-fiction novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley using Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism. The novel tells about the life journey of Victor Frankenstein as the main character. Victor Frankenstein is a genius man who is mastering science and wants to create human being from his knowledge and combine it with supernatural elements. Victor feels like he can create a creature like human. With all his ambition, he tries to build human being. Unfortunately his ambition comes into misery when his creature turns into monster. This thesis focuses on Victor Frankenstein life process. This thesis uses New Criticism to analyse the basic data, and going further with Existentialism to analyse the main point by using Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism theory (Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious stages of life), and it uses descriptive qualitative research. As the result, this thesis finds that Victor Frankenstein’s life existentialism leads by his obsessional character

INTISARI

Putri, Risqi.M. 2017.An Existence of Victor Frankenstein’s life in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Pembimbing : Abu Fanani, S.S, M.Pd.

Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis novel fiksi sains klasik Frankenstein oleh Mary Shelley menggunakan teori eksistentialisme Soren Kierkergaard. Novel ini bercerita tentang perjalanan hidup Victor Frankenstein sebagain tokoh utama dalam novel. Victor Frankenstein adalah seorang jenius yang menguasai ilmu pengetahuan dan dengan pengetahuannya tersebut, ia ingin menciptakan makhluk hidup layaknya manusia dan menggabungkannya dengan ilmu hitam. Victor merasa bahwa dia mampu menciptakan makhluk hidup. Dengan semua ambisinya dia mencoba membuat manusia. Malangnya, ambisi Victor berubah menjadi penderitaan ketika makhluk ciptaannya justru menjadi monster. Skripsi ini fokus pada perjalanan hidup Victor Frankenstein. Skripsi ini menggunakan teori New Criticism sebagai teori dasar. Dan menggunakan teori Eksistentialisme sebagai fokus utama dengan menggunakan teori Eksistentialisme milik Soren Kierkergaard (tahap estetik, etik dan religi) skripsi ini juga menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kehidupan eksistentialisme Victor desebabkan oleh obsesi dalam dirinya.

Table of Contents

Inside cover page... i

Inside title page ... ii

Declaration page... iii

Approval sheet ... iv

Examiner sheet ... v

Motto ... vi

Dedication sheet ... vii

Acknowledgements ... viii

Table of Contents ... ix

Abstract ... xi

Intisari ... xii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 Statement of Problem ... 5

1.3 Objective of the Study ... 5

1.4 Significance of the Study ... 5

1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 6

1.6 Method of the Study ... 7

1.6.1 Research Design ... 7

1.6.3 Source of the Study ... 8

1.7 Definition of Keyterm ... 8

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Theoretical Framework ... 9

2.1.1 Existentialism ... 9

2.1.2 New Criticism ... 17

2.2 Previous Studies ... 21

CHAPTER III ANALYSIS 3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s Characterization ... 24

3.1.1 Direct Characterization ... 25

3.1.2 Indirect Characterization ... 29

3.2 Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism ... 35

3.2.1 Aesthetical Stage ... 36

3.2.2 Ethical Stage ... 43

3.2.3 Religious Stage ... 48

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION... 52

REFERENCES ... 54

APPENDIX I ... 57

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of The Study

Literature has unlimited meanings. It can be globally defined as written work which is created aesthetically which contains an exact sense of the word. Literary work is written works which are imaginative and

distinguished by either the intentions or the aesthetic or artistic side of the authors to make it different with other daily readings. Therefore, many people think that literary works just an imaginative word that explosively expressed (Klarer 1). Whereas, actually literary works is not just an imaginative word that exist but also there are some aesthetic perspective from real human life which represent inside the character or the plot of the story.

Literary work as the product of author’s thought grows faster

nowadays. It has developed around the world. The existence of literary work can be seen in every part of the world. The existence of literary works or literature itself, combine a factual writing and a lot of fiction (Eagleton,2). Human tend to be exist in his own way. Every human has his own human rights to do something to show his existence. Even in literary work, there are characters which lead the think about Existentialism. Existentialism is a philosophy of living life as an active, aware, and authentic individual as an effort to look for the truth subjectivity (Solomon 4). The condition of how

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human life usually has a close relation with his obsession to show his

existentialism. In psychoanalysis 1925, Sigmund Freud states that obsessional syndrome is a mad disease when human do not really pay attention to his nonsensical practices and human tend to bring himself to believe that what he want is actually right

Obsession as existentialism happen when human trying really hard to show his willing to everyone and that what he think is right. Here, in

Frankenstein novel. In order to showing his existentialism, obsession is the main cause which makes his life process change. And his character become someone different from what he used to be before.

In general, Existentialism focuses on concrete experience, but the experience has various meanings. Some of existentialist figures show that experience could come from many ways. There are four figures in

existentialism, such as Soren Kierkegaard (religious existentialism), Jean Paul – Sartre, Friedrich Nietzche (will to power), Albert Camus (absurdist

existentialism). In this case, the issues to be discussed will be using religious existentialism from Soren Kierkegaard. Existentialism not only conceives man himself to be but also he is what he will and he should renew himself after he exist (Sartre, 49). Soren Kierkegaard who has been known as the founding father of existentialism states that there are three stages on human life’s ways, those are aesthetic, ethical and religious (Solomon, 87). In Literary work, Existentialism can be found on the character’s experience.

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Based on the explanation above and to explain how existentialism theory works on literary work, therefore this analysis would analyze a novel

Frankeinstein by Marry Shelley which will focus on the main character Victor

Frankenstein, an ambitious man who want to create a creature with his knowledge. as the existentialism theory, this analysis will apply the theory of existentialism stages by Soren Kierkegaard which contains of Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious as the main theory and New Criticism as the supporting theory. Soren Kierkegaard was the founding father of existentialism believes that there is no moral standard which limit oneself to be a being, faith is an

important basis for making choices, because only on the basis of faith does an individual have a chance to become a true self (Solomon 13). Kierkegaard argues that there are three stages on the way how human’s life. Those are aesthetic, ethics, and religious.

Frankenstein is Marry Shelley’s most famous novel. Marry Shelley is

classic novelist who was born on 1797. Original Frankenstein novel is a novel about an obsessed scientist named Victor Frankenstein who has a big obsession to combine his knowledge of science and supernatural side of life in order to discover a new walking dead creature. His obsession leads him to meet the creature which he called as a ‘monster’. After all made and set, Victor suddenly feels afraid of his new discovery. He leave that ‘monster’ in a hidden part of his apartment with his fear about the physical appearance of the monster even Victor getting sick of thinking about the monster. Unfortunately,

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the monster woken up and experienced some bad moment in society by his bad appearance and it is because Victor creates him like that. And the story continued with the death of Victor’s family. Some of Victor’s family died because the monster killed them as revenge to Victor. In the middle of the story, point of view inside the novel change to the monster point of view, here as a reader, I may conclude that the monster hates Victor because Victor creates him in a terrible physical appearance. Unfortunately, Victor cannot do anything but being terrorized by the monster. The ending of the novel is not really clearing the problem, the monster succeeded to make Victor

psychologically suffered while Victor itself always want to catch monster and kill it but unfortunately he died on his way to catch the monster.

The reason why the writer chooses the title is because this analysis would like to explore further about Existentialism especially for

Kierkegaard’s Existentialism Stages which is represented by the character Victor Frankenstein inside the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. While, the reason why this analysis aims at it novel is because, in my opinion the character of the novel fulfill all of the three stages (aesthetics, ethics and religion) from Soren Aabye Kierkegraargd’s opinion about Existentialism. Besides, the character of Victor Frankenstein is challenging to analyze it from Existentialism point of View.

The main issue of this analysis focuses on how the obsession of Victor Frankenstein will lead him into his life process. And that life process of Victor

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Frankenstein will help to show his existentialism which is in this analysis, it is portrayed by using Soren kierkegraard’s existentialism that contain of three stages (Ethical, Aestethical, and Religious).

1.2Statement of Probem

This Analysis focuses on three existentialism stages (Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious) of Victor Frankenstein’s Life. Therefore, This analysis following by these statements of problem:

a. How is Victor Frankenstein characterized in Frankenstein’s novel ? b. How is the process of Victor Frankenstein’s life viewed from

Kierkergaard’s existentialism stages ?

1.3Objectives of The Study

Based on the research problem above, the objectives of the study are :

a. To describe how the character of Victor Frankenstein characterized in Frankenstein novel

b. To describe Victor Frankenstein’s life from Kierkergaard’s existentialism stages

1.4Significance of the Study

This analysis is expected to give a good contribution for readers theoretically and practically. Theoretically, this analysis will help reader to

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understand the content of Frankenstein novel and existentialism theory especially existentialism stages by Soren Kierkergaard.

And practically, as an English literature thesis, this analysis can be one of the references for English literature Student. And this analysis can be a contribution for the development of existentialism study especially for Soren Kierkegaard’s Existentialism. In analysing existentialism theory, many of the literary analysts prefer analyses using Sartre’s theory rather to Kierkegaard’s. Therefore, this study will help as a reference for someone who wants to explore Kierkegaard’s existentialism and to understand more about Kierkegaard’s existentialism.

Moreover as an additional significance, readers will realize the fact that a fiction can be used to represent the serious idea about stages of existentialism as Kierkegaard does.

1.5Scope and Limitation

The scope focus of this study is about Victor Frankenstein’s obsession to discover a new creature which unfortunately did not works as what he thoughts. And Victor Frankenstein obsession lead him into three stages of Existentialism life, therefore the writer describe the process of Victor Frankenstein’s life through Soren’s religion existentialism. Because it is focused on Victor’s obsession, this analysis also includes Victor

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Frankenstein’s characterization analysis as the process of how the obsessions of Victor begin.

This research limitation is on characterization analysis. Because not of all Victor Frankenstein’s characterization is needed. The writer only focuses on Victor’s character which related to his process of leading his obsession to discover a new creature. This analysis won’t explain clearly about Victor’s all characterization because it is focused on the obsession of Victor Frankenstein.

1.6 Method of the Study

In conducting this research into one related research, there are some methods which are used. research design, source of the study and method of the study.

1.6.1 Research Design

To answer the research question rearding the theory above, this research use library based research such as reading the other reference, reading the book about related theory and understanding the whole content of the novel.

1.6.2 Method to Collecting Data

This study will use qualitative descriptive method and existentialism theory and taken by this following steps :

a. Reading the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley b. Understanding the important content inside the novel

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c. Collect the evidence based on the issue

d. Classifying the evidence which is included as the answer of the issue e. Dividing the data in some stages (aesthetics, ethics and religious) f. Concluding result of the analysis

1.6.3 Source of the Study

The source of the study will contain of Frankenstein novel, some of literary theory books, and some thesis as a reference. As an additional, the source of the study needs a biography of the writer, therefore an online biography website is needed as a source.

1.7 Definition of Keyterm

Obsession: according to Merriam Webster, obsession is an unreasonable idea or feeling or concern which sometimes has a persistent effect and it can be a persistent disturbing preoccupation

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Theoretical Framework

This chapter contain of the theories which is used as the guidance of the analysis. It contains one main theory and one supporting theory. Existentialism stands as the main theory. In this case, this analysis uses Existentialism by Soren

Kierkergaard which discusses about religious existentialism, and it is divided into three stages of existentialism; Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious. And for supporting theory, the writer uses New Criticism, especially for character and characterization theory in order to describe the characterization for the character more details.

Moreover, to support this analysis completely, attaching the previous study is needed. 2.1.1 Existentialism

Epistemologically, the word existentialism is derived from Greek word Existere which means ex (out) and sister (the way of standing). It refers to the meaning of something which is able to go out from the way its standing and exceeds its presence (Abidin, 33). However, in real circumstances of life there is nothing can go out of the way of its standing except human; animal and plants are limited by environment. Therefore, existentialism is specially discussed about human existence.

Existentialism is defined in contemporary philosophy. Literature

existentialism definitely has a close relation toward the context of literature and philosophy (Endraswara, 85). Exstentialism is a part of philosophy which is focused

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on the existence of somebody or something (90). Existentialism was first introduced by Soren Kierkergaard (1813-1855). Soren Aabey Kierkergaard is well known as the father of existentialism in the history of western philosophy (Mayer in Saifullah, 55). However, there are some various figures of existentialism such as Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jasper, Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. They are all included as the great philosophers.

As it is said before, existentialism has many different concepts from some of great philosopher figures. Hence, that different concepts come to the same definition of existentialism which is called as freedom. Freedom as a theme of literature is always carried on by existentialist to gain their own independence at their live without getting an intervention by anyone (end, 87). Existentialism is a man’s effort to build their own identity in his society. Thus, existentialism is related to individual own life while living with other people around him (Stanfford, 369)

In line with the term Freedom, basically human has their own right and freedom to choose his own choice which one is the best and the worst for his life whether from family demand, political system, social and cultural system (Tjaya,147). Although human has his own freedom, some term and condition of his society around can influence his choice even limit their freedom.

In other cases some people see existentialism as a philosophical movement viewed all phenomenon which come from human existence. Human existence means the way how they live in this world. Human appears in this world with all his

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world exist but they do not realize or interact with each other, indeed they will have a meaning because of human existence itself (Dagun 16). It indeed relate with the term existence precedes essences by Jean-Paul Sartre which means that human will know the decision of himself and the essences of himself after he exist in this world. Existentialism appears as the philosophical movement protests again the view that human being is an object, so that human existence should be taken seriously (Martin, vii). Kierkergaard stated that human being should involve actively in every event that happened to him. In this case, human cannot be passive observer of his situations even though human have to leave his happiness behalf of existence and free choices.

Soren Aabye Kierkergaard states that existentialism has a close definition with the term freedom. In kierkergaard terminology, to exist means to understand his own self through the freedom of choice and self-commitment. Kierkegaard states that sometimes, although not always, human action cannot be causally explained. It is because human action is not based on rational merely, but also based on free choices and spontaneous emotional (146)

As a father of existentialism, Kierkergaard opinion about existentialism influences numerous writers and thinkers. Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism is also known as Religious Existentialism. As a religious man, actually Kierkergaard

philosophy appeared as a reaction of Hegel’s opinion which is described human as a passive creature, passive observer and just have a role as movie goer. Hegel’s paradigm can influence an individual not to be responsible on his/her action because

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they enjoy with their crowd only

_.

Kierkergaard strongly opposed it. Therefore to change Hegel’s view, Kierkeraard made up with his own existentialism theory which focuses on individual experience. According to kierkergaard, there are three stages of human existence; they are aesthetic stages, ethic stages and religious stages.

• Aesthetic Stages

Aesthetic is a stages about the aesthetic of person lives for the moment. They have no deep commitments to one thing or another. They're not totally impulsive, but will only pursue long term goals as long as they're appealing, and will drop them once they are bored or something more fun appears on the horizon. They see life in terms of possibilities to be considered and enjoyed, not in terms of projects to pursue or ideals to live out. The aesthetic person is basically passive, and seeks satisfaction in things over which they have no control, dependent on what happens externally (Kierkergaard qtd on marikablogs.blogspot.co.id/2009/03/kierkergaaard-on-aesthetic-ethical-and.html)

Kierkegaard states that sometimes, although not always, human action cannot be causally explained. It caused that human action is not based on rational merely, but also based on free choices and spontaneous emotional (146). Aesthetic included as human spontaneous emotional because in aesthetic, human tend to think about their current emotional feeling.

In his book either/or, kierkergaard illustrate the aesthetic condition of individual by stating this:

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“Don Juan is an image which constantly appears, but does not gain forms and substance, an individual who is constantly being formed, but is never finished of whose life history one can form no more definite impression than one can by listening to the tumult of the waves” (Soren A. Kierkergaard, 91)

The illustration above explain that in aesthetic stages, human tend to be in his uncertain condition which he does not have his own substance and form. It means that in aesthetic stages, human emotion is not stabilized yet. In this aesthetic stages, human only consider about the aesthetic aspect of his life. Human only consider about their pleasure. Aesthetic man is controlled by sex’s instinct, pleasure hedonism principle, and act based on their mood (148)

Aesthetic stages show the authentic manner which is marked by degradation of manner (Kierkergaard on Wirahadi, 41). They do not have any universal moral standard and specific religious beliefs which hold on their life due it will be limit humans freedom and choice (Stumpf and Fieser 360). Therefore, in this phase of aesthetic, human described as negative human nature more than positive human nature. It is normal as a human being to have their own negative phase of their life since we know that if human does not have their own certain, they will fall into other people certain. Thus, in aesthetic stages, human has a strong will to enjoy his entire experiences of emotional and desires.

Victor Frankenstein is a genius man of science, it is normal if he want to create his own scientific product which is similar with human as God’s creature. He cannot accept the general fact that human cannot create human. He denies everyone

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else opinion which says that scientific knowledge is not enough to make a creature which is similar to human being.

Furthermore, if human only influences by his aesthetic emotion then where is his soul going? His soul will go in despair. Human that only influences by his

emotion, does not understand his orientation and his real goals of living. Then, there will only two choices, whether he would like to stay in his aesthetic stages by end up his life or he would like to move to other stage of life which is call as ethic stage. According to Kierkergaard, human being has to choose either they has to live aesthetically or they has to live ethically, or across it into religious stage (Kierkergaard, 8)

• Ethic Stages

The second stage is ethic stages. In aesthetic, human tend to be influenced by his pleasure and his own taste, in ethical stage human starting to realize the rules and conduct the reason formulates (Stumpf and Fieser, 361) According to the standard reception, Kierkegaard presents the ethicist as a representative of this important insight into human existence.

Ethical is the next stage which focused on 'choosing oneself' the ethical person sees themself as a goal, and where the aesthetic is constantly concerned with external things, the ethical person directs their attention and efforts towards their own nature, being something over which they have control. They examine themselves to discover what they really want, and what's important isn't so much whether they achieve the

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things they set out to achieve, but more the extent to which they throw their whole selves into their activities (K.Roth, 268).

Objective thinking is relevant and appropriate when it comes to areas as logic, nature, mathematics and history, because such areas of scientific research is ruled by a certain necessity that makes it possible to achieve knowledge unrelated to particular subjects. In ethical phase, human can control his emotion and can adjust it with universal morality standard (253). Hence, ethic human does not live for him, but he can follow the humanistic values.

Kierkergaard says that the movement of human from aesthetic to ethical phase is like who left their temporal sexual desire and come into marriage with all its duties (Ostina,36). In his book Either/Or, Kierkergaard also explain that the ethical stage form of life is conceived as a stage superior to the esthetical one. it is only when human reach the ethical stage that we choose our own self, our true or absolute self. Absolute choice means choosing one's absolute self or choosing one's self according to its absolute value. (196)

• Religious stage

The last stages and the highest stages of human existentialism mentioned by Kierkergaard is religious stage. Here, human starting to realize the reality of God. This is a phase where human carry on his authentically and face God as a single entity. The ethical and the religious are distinguished from each other because of their

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different understanding of how to conceive the pursuit of the good for its own sake (Seite,8).

Religious mean does not influenced by a single humanity values. Religious phase is distinguished by recognition of human towards the existence of God.

According to Kierkergaard, he illustrate the character modeling of religious man was Abraham. He is a figure from Holy Scripture. He sacrificed his son because he believes what God instructed to him. If human think rationally, what Abraham did here is irrational and out of humanity values. But according to religious man thinking, if Abraham did not obey God’s instruction, Abraham would be sinful. Hence,

Abraham thought out of humanity principle he entered a paradox. Here, Abraham left his ethical phase to the religious phase. (20)

There will be two kinds of paradox which religious man will face. The first is paradoxical of God. To explain this paradox, there is no rationally explanation. For example, if God is very good but why there are a crime and crime victims in this world? There is no way to get knowledge about it except through individual faith. To receive this kind of God’s paradox, religious man should have his own subjectivity-believe based on his true faith of God (Abidin, 137). The second paradox is anxiety. Anxiety has a different meaning with frightened, anxiety refers to unreal something, uncertain thing, and incoherent. Therefore, religious man believe that people

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Therefore, only people who have his true faith and self-belief toward God will be survive in this phase of Religious Stage. Only the good one will survive and keep himself into the highest stage of existentialism.

2.1.2 New Criticism

New Criticism or Russian Formalism is theory which is critically focused on literature itself. New Criticism in practice came to focus almost exclusively on

problems of interpreting individual texts. (Searle,1). Hence, New Criticism is a theory of literature criticism based on the text only. Wellek and Warren in Theory of

Literature (1949), attempt to explain the theory of new criticism. They distinguish between the "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" study of element in literary works. Intrinsic takes part from the literary work itself. Intrinsic approach emphasizes the analysis intertext by describing the elements of the literary works that explained before. Intrinsic approach applied by the writer in order to show the elements of the novel. Parts of elements of the prose are characters, plot, setting, theme, and point of view. While extrinsic element related to literary biography, history, psychology, and

sociology to the "extrinsic" domain, a move that incurred the ire of literary historians, scholars, sociologists, and so on. In all of these major postwar efforts to consolidate theoretical gains, the same general problem persists: there is no well-grounded way to ascertain the validity of any particular interpretation. (139)

According on the statement above, New Criticism deals with the text only which contains only inside the intrinsic element. Therefore, New Criticism deals with the elements within the text and no need to analyze historical, political, social,

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biographical, and other outside information of the novel include the author’s life. It is ignoring any historical context, biographical statement about the author,

philosophical issues and moral or political information of literary works (Gillespie 172)

Based on the explanation above and related to this analysis, because this analysis would like to explore more about Victor Frankenstein’s life through his obsession, therefore it is needed to analyze using New Criticism theory especially focuses on character and characterization analysis.

• Character

Character is one interesting point of intrinsic elements. In Literature especially fiction, Character perhaps defined as a verbal representative of human being. Abram states that “Character is people who are appeared in a narrative prose or novel and it is interpreted by the readers as a person who has moral quality and certain tendency such as being expressed in what they say and what they do” (76)

Characters can be flat or round character; and major or minor character. General known of character varieties are protagonist and antagonist character. Altenberd and Lewis stated that Protagonist character is a character with so much admiration and attention by the readers. Protagonist character described as a hero because of their ideal role, and they often follow the rules of condition and society. Protagonist characters often get sympathy by the readers (1966) most of value from literary works, showed by the protagonist characters. And there are the opposite of

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antagonist character; Antagonist character usually gives a conflict towards protagonist. There is a point which sometimes the characters does not give us the moral value (Luxemburg, 1992) and it usually done by the antagonist one.

Besides protagonist and antagonist, there is major and minor characters build inside the story. The major character plays the biggest role inside the story. The major character stand as the most dominant told in the story. While minor character has a part as supporting role in the story. Major character usually has a round character means that his character can be change as the story progresses while minor character has a flat character means that his character stills the same from beginning to the end of story.

There are many kinds of how character builds in story. Characters refer to human beings who are created by the author to life inside the story (Mason, 9) therefore, character is a fictions human being which is created by the author to present the story or plot through word. Hence, all the characters in literary works are fictitious. Although they are not real in fiction work, sometimes author created them as representative of personal character from real word (Holman in Nevada, 24)

Author may create they characters, but they do not reveal whole of their character through author’s description. Sometimes we can conclude the character personalities by their dialogue or author’s narration. In order to reveal their personalities more, we need characterization analysis.

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• Characterization

The next point is about characterization, it explore more about the character. Readers need this to build an understanding about the character not only from the direct explanation of author. There are four basic steps to get the information about the characters. The fir st is through the characters speeches and thoughts. In this case, the author gives the readers an indirect insight through what the character says

because whenever author puts forward and opinion, author is giving some clues to his characters. The second is through what the activity or action of characters it usually explains in situational description. It means by seeing the character’s action, readers can get information about the quality of the character’s personality. The third is through what other characters think or say about them. The last is by evaluating what the author says about characters, speaking as storyteller or observer. There is a part where author uses narrative description as a storyteller (Holman, 139)

Once again, according to Harmon and Holman (A handbook to literature), the role of Characterization is to present the character in action with a little or no explicit comment by the author (89). Characterization help the analyst to understand more about the character build inside the story. Characterization is what the author showed and told about the character in specific way. Means that the author shows the reader about internal and external side of character and the author describe the qualities of the character (Abram 33-34)

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Characterization is a brief description of personage who symbolizes some certain qualities in literary work (Holman, 81). Therefore in literary works, what the author write about characterization is only a brief description, then reader will summarize by his own opinion based on that brief description. Author commonly is used to characterize their character in order to create life like characters in their novels. (138)

Based on the explanation above, this analysis needs characterization theory to open up about Victor obsession on his whole life and from his obsession causes many destroying event of Victor’s Life.

2.2 Previous Studies

There are some studies which analyzed this novel. The first study is from Victor Frankenstein’s Anxiety and Defense Mechanism as depicted in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by Arnanta Putri. This study examined from the psychoanalysis point of view of Victor Frankenstein’s character. This study focuses on Victor’s anxiety which leads him into his defense mechanism stages of psychoanalysis. This study shows that Victor’s anxiety comes after he created the monster. There are two kinds of anxiety which occurs to Victor’s life, neurotic anxiety and moral anxiety.

Therefore to reduce his anxiety Victor uses repression, reaction formation and projection which is included his Defense Mechanism tactics to overcome his anxiety.

The second study is written by Selen (Çevik) Baranoğlu entitled An Analysis Of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein And Robert L. Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

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In Relation To Lacanian Criticism

.

It explore about Lacanian concepts of

psychoanalysis desire, alienation and sexuality in novel Frankenstein by Marry Shelley and novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson. According to this study, the formation of human personality takes place in the unconscious where desire, alienation and sexuality are formed. In this case according to this study, Victor’s personality takes place in his unconscious desire to discover new creatures. The conclusion of this analysis showed that the concept of desire integrated into the lives of individuals. This study also attempted to illustrate the close relation between psychoanalysis and gothic fiction.

The third study which has already examine Frankenstein novel entitled Good and Evil in Man : The Desire of Victor in Frankenstein by Sara Marklund from Goteborg University. This study uses Victor Frankenstein’s desire as the main focus. It explore about how the desire of Victor leads him into two kind of human being which is good and evil man. This study aims to describe what good and evil sides of victor are. As the supporting evidence, this study also describes how the monster which is created by Victor influence Victor’s character in a whole novel. As the result, this study shows that Victor’s life ends up in misery because he is denies him of being anything other than a perfect and good human being.

The last as an additional, I would like to add the study which has different novel but same theory uses as the main theory. The thesis entitled The Existentialism studies on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe’s Freedom of Life by Umar Wirahadi

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UIN Maulana Malik Malang. This thesis uses Kierkergaard’s existentialism as the main theory which focused on the character freedom of life. According to this thesis, the complete existence of human can be seen through his whole life, and using

kierkergaard existentialism, this thesis would like to find out existentialism aspects of character. As the result and conclusion, this thesis conclude that the way of the character defend his existence is related much with the concept of existentialism aspects and stages.

According to the first three previous studies, Frankenstein novel always uses as psychological analysis subject. While the last previous study above, using

Existentialism as a theory. This research use existentialism theory especially Kierkergaard’s Existentialism and focus on the way character life based on

Kierkergaard Existentialism three phases of life. Behalf on Existence, the character reconcile many suffering problem which is causes by his obsession. He has to faces risk and consequences. Therefore, there is several Existentialism discourses will be discuss, especially Kierkergaard Existentialism thought.

CHAPTER III ANALYSIS

Literature has a same path as philosophy which is talked about human life (Sutrisno, 16). Philosophy talked about human life from its essence, while literature talked about human life by using the sense of combine a word. The sense of

combining words usually comes from author imagination. Imagination of the author can contain human desire, human existence and human life which portrayed by using a certain character inside the storyline of the novel.

The appearance of literary works which is related to human life is a part of existential novel. Frankenstein is one of novel which portraying about human existence using an imaginative genre and specifying it through fantasy storyline.

Frankenstein major character leads us to understand philosophical values especially

the philosophy of human life through it characterization. Thus, this chapter contain of the analysis of Victor Frankenstein characterization as major character in order to open up his whole life process. From those life process, this chapter continue to analyse using existentialism phases of life by Soren Kierkergaard in order to understand what is existentialism value in human life.

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3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s Characterization

There are two kinds of characterization, Direct and Indirect Characterization. Direct characterization, author attempted to show the character’s characterization directly by using his word. While indirect characterization, author try to makes reader understand about characterization using character personality, how the character build a dialogue and how the character has an effect towards another character inside the novel.

3.1.1 Direct Characterization A. Genius and Intelligent Man

Direct characterization not only can be seen from brief description, but also from the other characters think about certain someone. And it happen in this novel, which is Victor Frankenstein being described by the other characters.

As a good student of science, Victor often get a praise from his professor. One of it is what M.Krempe said about him. according to M.Krempe, Victor is modest yet he has a good quality of young man. M.Krempe is Victor professor; he knows how Victor behaviour from Victor’s ability. According to M.Krempe,Victor has a good quality because he knows that Victor has an excellent sense of knowledge of science. Victor Frankenstein is also a modest young man which according to M.Krempe, Victor resemblance him when he was younger.

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‘M. Frankenstein is modest, an excellent quality in a young man. Young men should be diffident of themselves, you know, M. Clerval; I was myself when young; but that wears out in a very short time.’ (73) M.Krempe

B. Ambitious Man

“But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety”

Victor think himself as an over-enthusiasm while making for the project. He knows his anxiety but he continue to build what he want.

Victor always described himself as always wanting to penetrates the secret of

nature. That he always want to get over the nature being, he wanted to open up the

secret of nature. Which is I think, this character included Victor as someone who loves nature.

C. Romantic as a gentle and wise man

A story usually gives a brief description about the character from the third person point of view. Here, there is an example where Victor character described directly in the story. Victor is a gentle man, yet he is so wise, he is being careful with his words. The way he speak shows his gentle side.

“Victor is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated, and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, yet they flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence”

The paragraph above shows how Victor characters on the first story begin. It clears that most of Victor’s character traits is like a noble man character with his

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intelligence, wise and he speaks with a manner. It described most of Victor’s basic characters trait.

D. An unhappy soul and his bad character traits

As the man who was found Victor when he is in misery, Walton’s point of view it shown at the first chapter of the story. Here, Walton told all his opinion about Victor. The first content of the novel shows about Walton opinion of Victor, a man who he just helps in the middle of catastrophic strong wind. Walton talk about how Victor appearance and how Victor act.

“Although unhappy, he is not so utterly occupied by his own misery but that he interests himself deeply in the projects of others”

“He said this his countenance became expressive of a calm, settled grief that touched me to the heart. But he was silent and presently retired to his cabin” Such a man has a double existence: he may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments, yet when he has retired into himself”

According to what Walton sees from Victor, it can be seen that Victor is actually a calm man, but he have such a misery looking on his appearance, Victor is silent and the way Victor appear and speak is touching Walton’s heart.

According to the Monster, Victor is Injustice and irresponsible. Most of the bad event happen to the monster is miserable. According to the monster, his

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not want to get responsible over the monster. That is why the monster thought that Victor is not giving him a justice.

“Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due” (114)

The word be not equitable shows what monster think of Victor. It clear that according to Monster, Victor is not equitable person

According to Henry, Victor is a good and kind. Henry Clerval is one of the closest character from Victor. He is Victor bestfriend who always in Victor side. He is always saying something good to Victor, because Clerval think Victor is a good friend of him.

‘My dear Victor,’ Clerval

Clerval is like someone who is really close to Victor. Not only close but also Clerval consider Victor as his good best friend. When he talks to Victor, Clerval always add some certain word like ‘dear’ or ‘my good friend’. This means that clerval really considering Victor as a good man.

‘How kind and generous you are! everyone else believes in her guilt, and that made me wretched, for I knew that it was impossible: and to see everyone else prejudiced in so deadly a manner rendered me hopeless and despairing.’ She wept. (Elizabeth)

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As a niece and a woman who’s Victor loves. Elizabeth is one crucial character with an innocent personality, she always lean on herself to Victor and think that Victor is a good man. Elizabeth think that Victor is kind and generous in every condition, especially in condition where no one else believes on her. Victor is a good man to Elizabeth, and someone who worth to marry with. Thus, Elizabeth become Victor’s wife before Elizabeth getting murdered by the monster.

3.1.2 Indirect Characterization A. Genius and Intelligent Man

Victor is science’s genius. He has known as a man with a great knowledge of science. Even he knows so much important theory of science at his lecturer level. He is always enthusiast learning something new. He included as intelligence because he is diligent and likely to learn everything to get what he want and it is hard to separate Victor with science.

“When I had arrived at this point and had become as well acquainted with the theory and practice of natural philosophy as depended on the lessons of any of the professors at Ingolstadt, my residence there being no longer conducive to my improvements”

Besides, he is interest with science which is at that era; a man who has a big knowledge of science can be a lecture or a person who is sees as an intelligent and having higher level of knowledge.

“I had gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep human beings from entering the citadel of nature, and rashly and ignorantly I had repined. (36)”

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Even the way he speaks, showing his intelligence side, his noble-genius man being. It appears on some dialogue of Victor. In all his dialogue Victor shows his respect toward his talking friend.

B. Ambitious Man

Victor is a man with a big curiosity inside himself. He feels like he can do everything as long as he knows the theory.

“I had contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very different when the masters of the science sought immortality and power”

When Victor already intended into his work, he shows hi enthusiasm and his ambition. He only sees one thing that he should finish his project soon. He does not care about anything besides his project. Victor works overly hard to makes what he wants become true. He does not think about his health condition. It can be shown in the paragraph when he said that his physical appearance is regularly changing into something worse.

“I expressed myself in measured terms, with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his instructor, without letting escape (inexperience in life would have made me ashamed) any of the enthusiasm which stimulated my intended labour”

“These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardour. My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement”

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He even realize that he have lost his soul completely because he want to build that creature but he keep continue his work instead of stop and thinking about himself and his future.

“I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit”

C. Romantic as a gentle and wise man

Being romantic is not always from man to woman or the opposite. According to Percy Bysshe (Shelley husband), the romantic movement in literature following by four terms, first, having a lot of feeling, second, a healthy sense of self importance is needed, third, a sense of yourself as a lone individual trekking out to be knowledge and enlightenment to the rest of the world. And the last is an ability to sense the sublime in nature.

According to those four terms, Victor characterization is sounds familiar and fit the character of being romantic. Victor is a dreamer with a big ego, this is one of what he feels about nature showing his romantic side.

“During this short voyage I saw the lightning playing on the summit of Mont Blanc in the most beautiful figures. The storm appeared to approach rapidly, and, on landing, I ascended a low hill, that I might observe its progress. It advanced; the heavens were clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large drops, but its violence quickly increased……..While I watched the tempest, so beautiful yet terrific, I wandered on with a hasty step. This noble war in the sky elevated my spirits; I clasped my hands, and exclaimed aloud, ‘William, dear angel! this is thy funeral, this thy dirge!’ (82-83)

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Victor’s feeling of nature showing his romantic side. Victor appears to see a nature as being beyond his control. It is massive, overpowering, frightening and yet in short it can be called as somehow beautiful. Besides, Victor always described

himself as always wanting to penetrates the secret of nature. Victor actually have his being perfect romantic man. his action shows everything for being romantic. But unfortunately he still have some issues to work out and given his romantic side to everyone he loves.

D. An unhappy man and his bad character traits

Victor Frankenstein had a mad scientist vibe. The point which clearly tells the reader about Victor is that he is curious and more importantly he is always been this way. Victor clearly insisting that he has been curious since he was a little kid, he makes reader thinks that it his fault for his action to be born this way. Victor’s statement giving us the evidence that explains if he is just victim of his genes by pointing out that he had a happy childhood.

“My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.” (32)

Actually that statement of Victor is not convincing enough. Victor is really trying to absolve himself of any responsibility by insisting that he just could not help himself. Because by stating something like that as the story, it shows the evidence

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that Victor seems to blame his father and his teachers. And also, when he starts obsessing over the alchemist Cornelius Agrippa, Victor start to blames his father for not explain the principles of Agrippa’s science. And left him with his childhood-blindness.

“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former

studies………..My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle

with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge.” (34/36)

And then, when Victor finally goes off to University, he met his teacher of Natural philosophy. Again, Victor seems like to makes an excuses saying that he could not help being interested in chemistry because M. Krempe was ugly and M. Waldman was essentially George Clooney.

“This professor was very unlike his colleague. He appeared about fifty years of age, but with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence; a few grey hairs covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly black. His person was short but remarkably erect and his voice the sweetest I had ever heard.” (45)

Not only had that, Victor even tried to blame the destiny like it is destiny-fault his life become miserable like this. And its do sounds like a man who is desperately regret what he has done to create a terrible monster which already harmed his life.

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“Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” (38)

E. Idealist

An idealist is someone who holds a certain finite which has no veritable being is his ideal (Pippin, 41). Therefore someone who has an idealist personality believes on what he believes even the other do not believe him. An idealist has his own firm believe and no one could not interfere his belief.

Victor is someone with his own belief. Which is when someone stated that he should not wasting time for believing something unimportant. He keep doing what he think that is right without considering the other’s opinion.

“A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind, and bounding with joy, I communicated my discovery to my father. My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book and said, ‘Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash’

Rather than believing his father who has said that Cornelius Agrippa’s science is not good to believe, Victor believing himself because he think that Agrippa’s scence is something worth it to be learned. It happens again when M.Krempe his professor said that Victor should not make a difficult project. When M.Krempe said that Victor studied a wrong theory, Victor did not believe that and continue to learn what he thought is right.

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M. Krempe with warmth, ‘every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly and entirely lost. You have burdened your memory with exploded systems and useless names. Good God! In what desert land have you lived, where no one was kind enough to inform you that these fancies which you have so greedily imbibed are a thousand years old and as musty as they are ancient? I little expected, in this enlightened and scientific age, to find a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. My dear sir, you must begin your studies entirely anew.’ (43)

Even M.Krempe already told what is wrong by Victor’s knowledge; Victor cannot accept that and continue to learn. He believes that he has possessed by science. a science theory which he believes. And he believe himself that he has a natural talent to do a science project.

“There only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies and to devote myself to a science for which I believed myself to possess a natural talent

It can be concluded that the quotation and explanation above shows how Victor behave in his life. He has a strong willingness, although he is kind and nice man, when it comes to his ambition, he may change himself into someone else which he does not think about his surroundings. He left his friend, father and his closest relation to fulfilling his obsession

3.2 Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism

Based on the existentialism theory by Soren Kierkergaard in previous chapter, Kierkergaard divided Existentialism into three phases that is Aesthetical stages,

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continue into the higher phases which is Ethical stages, and then the last one is the higher phases of Existentialism is Religious stages. Kierkergaard defined that human in existentialism have those three of phases to gain his existence. Thus, the analysis below will explain about Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism which leads by his Obsessional and Ambitious characterization that already explain above in

characterization part. In analysing Frankenstein’s existentialism, it needs to understand Victor whole life process.

3.2.1 Aesthetical Stage

Aesthetical stage is where human feel boredom as the root of evil (Roth, 263). Basically, human wants to show his existentialism to avoid that boredom which happens in his life. To avoid that boredom, of course human need to experiences new stages of his life which is lead it into the feeling of power and over confidence. As it shows inside the novel through the life of Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein in a genius man who is currently studying science. He though that he is understand the concept of creating human through science. Most of Aesthetic side of Victor will be concern on his Science ambition. And his interest of science begins when he was thirteen. He found some interesting aspect because of Cornelius Agrippa’s book.

“Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire,

therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science. When I was thirteen years of age we all went on a party of

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to remain a day confined to the inn. In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate and the wonderful facts which he relates soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind, and bounding with joy” (34)

After finding the scientist work of Cornelius Agrippa, Victor becomes more interest to science. It leads his obsession grow bigger. Victor’s father already stated that Victor should not waste a time to read Agrippa’s science. But his father only explains that point without further explanation about Agrippa’s theory. It makes Victor more and more curious about science. And it leads him into a big ambition which comes as the result of his boredom and his thinking which is only lead by his emotion without thinking that it would destroy him later.

“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies. It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin. But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents, and I continued to read with the greatest avidity. When I returned home my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of

Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight; they appeared to me treasures known to few besides myself. I have described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature” (35)

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After he read many book of science, Victor started to have a big imagination that science will make him into a better person. Without anyone to lean on, Victor with his child imagination and blindness started to get thirsty over knowledge. Victor’s father is not a scientific person; therefore no one can teach Victor what is right and what is wrong about science. He started to have his own perception of science.

“My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge. Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention. (36)”

Not only about science. Victor thought that science is not enough. Yet, all his writer whom Victor believes is also talking about supernatural element because they are all the ancient writers. Thus, Victor tried to wider his knowledge into supernatural knowledge that is talked about ghost and spirit. He does not know that is not good to read about this without anyone to guide him.

“Nor were these my only visions. The raising of ghosts or devils was a

promise liberally accorded by my favourite authors, the fulfillment of which I most eagerly sought; and if my incantations were always unsuccessful, I attributed the failure rather to my own inexperience and mistake than to a want of skill or fidelity in my instructors. And thus for a time I was occupied by exploded systems, mingling, like an unadept, a thousand contradictory theories and floundering desperately in a very slough of multifarious knowledge, guided by an ardent imagination and childish reasoning, till an accident again changed the current of my ideas. (36)”

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Unfortunately, Victor experience some confusing moment, where he wants to analyse the law of electricity, eventually the theories he learned from many genius scientist has different explanation. Victor feels like all the great researcher of natural philosophy does not astonish enough for him. And learning all those theories will throw him into fatality. Victor thought it will be useless to learned about that theories. Therefore, he decided to give up of science.

“…..Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, the lords of my imagination; but by some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my accustomed studies. It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known………….I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation, and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge.” (37-38)

But after his mother passed away, Victor started to move to Ingolstadt and starting to study in higher level. Here, Victor met some professors which make his obsession of science back again.

“The next morning I delivered my letters of introduction and paid a visit to some of the principal professors. Chance—or rather the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over me from the moment I turned my reluctant steps from my father’s door—led me first to M. Krempe, professor of natural philosophy. He was an uncouth man, but deeply imbued in the secrets of his science. (43)”

After meeting the professor from his university, Victor starts to interest in chemistry which has a big role in science. He was starting to read science book over and over again. And asking to his professor about what he does not know.

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“From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures and cultivated the acquaintance of the men of science of the university, and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable.”

His interest over science became an obsession. He feels like he knows every construction of human being over science. He wants to create a creature which is similar with human because he feels he can do that with all the knowledge he already learned in his whole life.

“I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organization; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complete and wonderful as man”

The paragraph above said that Victor has too much imagination because his first work of science has been successful. It leads Victor to be greedier with his ability. And he decided to create a creature which is in it process, it causes many things happen in Victors life. Besides, when Victor has already meet professor Waldman, he felt obsessed by what M.Waldman done, he obsessed over M.Waldman science experiment and M.Waldman ancient studies of science. Victor started to have a hallucination and imagination about making new experiment of science which can make him become stronger. Aesthetical stage of person occurs when human only

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think about pleasure. Here, Victor thinks that his nature knowledge of science and his experiment-to-be will make an immortality and power.

“Besides, I had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very different when the masters of the science sought immortality and power; such views, although futile, were grand…..”

Victor’s ambition of making a creature grow bigger, he even cannot sleep at night, think about the next day he will making something. Shortly, after a while of thinking, Victor started to dong his imagination. He started to doing an observation, investigation over something which related to what he want to do. He starting to get impresses with some kind of supernatural horrors. He analyse everything like making a creature is the only aim of his life.

“As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid”

“After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”(52)

“But this discovery was so great and overwhelming that all the steps by which I had been progressively led to it were obliterated, and I beheld only the result. What had been the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world was now within my grasp”

At this stage, Victor ambition changes himself become someone with a different personality. He does not think about his surrounding anymore. Not only about his surrounding, Victor seems like a man who did not care about his health. He only thinks about how to make his experiment success.

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“These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardour. My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement.”(54)

“And the same feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time. I knew my silence disquieted them, and I well-remembered the words of my father”(56)

“Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. (57)”

This stages keep continue until Victor faces something which he did not hope before, which he cannot even figure out before. He saw that his experiment did not work as what he thought. His experiment result did not please him. It happened eventually after some progress he made but he still can’t get what he imagine at first.

“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?...”

And because of that creature appearance, Victor feels defeated like he has make something wrong. He feels like his dream is shattered and nothing can do with it anymore. Victor has being stress and sick because of that monster appearance. Victor even can back to the place where he makes that creature. The appearance of the creature is look like monster. And it makes Victor suffer a lot from fear.

“I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky”

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“I trembled excessively; I could not endure to think of, and far less to allude to, the occurrences of the preceding night. I walked with a quick pace, and we soon arrived at my college. I then reflected, and the thought made me shiver, that the creature whom I had left in my apartment might still be there, alive and walking about. I dreaded to behold this monster, but I feared still more that Henry should see him.”(63)

And because of this, Victor Aesthetical stages ended here and continue into the next stage which is ethical stages

3.2.2 Ethical Stages

Kierkergaard described an ethical stages is where human leave his satisfaction or his temporary desire and starting to accepting all obligations (Hardiman 253) . at this stage, individual can control and identify himself. Mean that in this stage, an individual starting to have his conscious back. In Ethical stage, human starting to have his “free choice” that human can begin his free consciously choice.

Because at this stage human can have his conscious choice, therefore human can control himself even he can control his ambition. He is starting to have himself in reality and concrete option under rational consideration. Kierkergaard stated that in ethical stage, human have attempted to achieve a moral value though human being is still trapped inside himself and is still being immanent.

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This existence stage come to Victor’s Frankenstein life with his direction of thought and he realize that he has experience alienation where because of his

ambition, he does not want to socialize even he does not want to meet his family and locked up himself to focuses on the creature being which he was intended to create. When he starting to get sick and fear because of seeing the monster. Clerval his close friend come to help him. Here, Victor starting to get his conscious back and having he as the old Victor before his ambition came.

“By very slow degrees, and with frequent relapses that alarmed and grieved my friend, I recovered. I remember the first time I became capable of observing outward objects with any kind of pleasure, I perceived that the fallen leaves had disappeared and that the young buds were shooting forth from the trees that shaded my window. It was a divine spring, and the season contributed greatly to my convalescence. I felt also sentiments of joy and affection revive in my bosom; my gloom disappeared, and in a short time I became as cheerful as before I was attacked by the fatal passion.” (65)

The paragraph above, shows that Victor has back to his consciousness and starting to think that all his time was getting wasted by having the fatal passion of making monster. He could think straight and become friendly like before.

Slowly, Victor realize that his obsession did not make him into something good but precisely bad. When Victor realize it, he starting to realize his ethical stage where he understand about humanity and his life autonomy.

“A selfish pursuit had cramped and narrowed me until your gentleness and affection warmed and opened my senses; I became the same happy creature who, a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care. When

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happy, inanimate nature had the power of be stowing on me the most delightful sensations” (75).

Victor starting to get enjoy being himself, he can get along with his friend like before, answering the letter from his family and even he come back to Geneva, come back to his family. He met his father, and his father told him what happen at that time when Victor seems like someone who did not care about family.

“My father observed with pain the alteration perceptible in my disposition and habits and endeavoured by arguments deduced from the feelings of his serene conscience and guiltless life to inspire me with fortitude and awaken in me the courage to dispel the dark cloud which brooded over me. ‘Do you think, Victor,’ said he, ‘that I do not suffer also? No one could love a child more than I loved your brother’— tears came into his eyes as he spoke— ‘but is it not a duty to the survivors that we should refrain from augmenting their unhappiness by an appearance of immoderate grief? It is also a duty owed to yourself, for excessive sorrow prevents improvement or enjoyment, or even the discharge of daily usefulness, without which no man is fit for society”

According to his father who can meet Victor after a long time, his father observed Victor with pain, it means that he understand Victor was suffer a lot because of his habit and his guiltless life on his ambition. But in this ethical stage Victor back to his consciousness and become man who is fit for society. He starting to life with his family and having a moral value inside himself like before he is getting influenced by his ambition.

Although Victor has back to his soul and realize what he has done. He is still himself which is not responsible towards what he has done. He never back to the

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place where he left the unfinished monster he made. He asked his friend to check the apartment where he leaves the monster. And the monster has gone. It means that the monster is alive and wandering around somewhere. Here, Victor still did not realize which one is the wrong point he has made.

The movement from ethical stage to religious stage of human is because he is already experienced something which at the end he decided to reflect himself and bring back himself toward the nature. In Ethical stage, Victor does not realize that he has already making the monster become devil. It happen when the monster started to kill his family one by one starting from his little cousin William, in this case, no one knows who the murderer of an innocent child like William is. But there is a false defendant. Everyone said that Justine is the killer of William, whereas actually Justine did not do that. That’s how one by one of her family come to be a murderer victim.

After realize that it has been to years after he releasing a monster and listening to the explanation of Justine who was false accused to be murderer. Victor

understands that the killer of his family is not anyone else but a monster he created. Victor tried to looking for a way to solve this. Suddenly, the monster appears in front of him.

“As I said this I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance,

advancing towards me with superhuman speed. He bounded over the crevices in the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his stature, also, as he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. I was troubled; a mist came over

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my eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me, but I was quickly restored by the cold gale of the mountains”

Victor was shock and afraid of the monster physical appearance. But he can hold his anger toward the monster. He feels disgust, but his rage and his hatred toward the monster cannot be held anymore. The monster knows that he would get that kind of reaction, but the monster still continue to approach Victor and asking Victor a solution to handle this condition.

‘I expected this reception,’ said the daemon. (113)

The monster told Victor everything. The monster told that Victor has been make the monster suffer a lot because of the physical appearance Victor gave to the monster. And monster feels like Victor bring monster into trouble by creating that kind of physical appearance without any responsibility.

“My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another. He easily eluded me and said— ‘Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made me more

powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”

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Unfortunately, Victor cannot accept that. Victor still consider that all accident happen over the monster life is not because of Victor. It is because the monster it self. But what happen to Victor’s family it because what monster has done. Victor still seeing the monster as something horrible and blame the monster all the way.

The differences in ethical stages and religious stages is that in ethical stages, even human has already reach his morality and consciousness; he is still himself which is sometimes do not want to be blamed. He do not have his responsibility over something he has done on aesthetical stages. This is what happen to Victor in this Ethical stages.

3.2.3 Religious Stage

Religious stage is the highest stage of human existentialism. At this stage, human shows his deepest core of their self. In short, Religious is no longer concrete things and directly lives through human deepest core (Said 52). Here, human starting to get his consciousness over the existence of God. This is where a sinner needs forgiveness from God.

In this novel, after going through the entire journey to get revenge but he cannot aim it. Victor starting to enter his religious stage which he realize that what he do is useless. And he needs an enlightenment to realize that what happen on him is because his ambition to create another human being, to create immortality and get

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compete with God. While he does not realize that God is the only one who can create human being.

Here, what makes Victor come to this stage is because of the monster already killed many of Victor’s family, the people who are loved by Victor. Victor tried to get revenge and starting to haut the monster, but Monster keep running and the monster keep making Victor run toward him. The monster wants Victor to feel miserable, sad and unhappy same as what the monster feel. And in his quest to get the monster, Victor suddenly realize that what he do is useless. In the middle of it, Victor meets someone who is also in a process of getting his ambition like what Victor did at past. Victor tells him his long story with all the regret in his heart and his mind.

“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how

dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

Victor realizes that he is the man who wants to become greater than his nature will allow. Victor realizes that his knowledge comes into obsession and his obsession come into ambition. And it drops him into dangerous life.

‘I agree with you,’ replied the stranger; ‘we are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves— such a friend ought to be—do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures. I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures, and am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship. You have hope, and the world before you, and have no cause for despair. But I—I have lost everything and cannot begin life anew.’ (20)

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Victor Frankenstein ended dying after reflecting what he has done. He finally back to realize about the existence of the almighty and the nature being in the last time of his life.

“His voice became fainter as he spoke, and at length, exhausted by his effort, he sank into silence. About half an hour afterwards he attempted again to speak but was unable; he pressed my hand feebly, and his eyes closed forever, while the irradiation of a gentle smile passed away from his lips” (270)

At the end of the story, the monster killed himself after knowing that Victor Frankenstein already died.

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

Finally, the research comes to the final chapter which is going to conduct the

conclusion from the analysis of Victor Frankenstein life by using three phases of

Existentialism of Soren Kierkergaard. As explained in the previous chapter,

Existentialism is a type of philosophy that expresses on human existence.

Existentialism is related much with human freedom. Kierkergaard’s existentialism

says that human life divided into three phases Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious.

Victor Frankenstein is the main character in this novel, he appears as an

obsessional person which is his obsession lead his existentialism in the story. The

story begins with Walton’s point of view, which is in his story he explained bout

Victor. At the middle of the story, point of view belongs to Victor, he explained his

whole experience when he find the monster. The next point of view change to the

monster point of view which the monster told about his misery and how he hates

Victor as his creator, and at the end of the story, point of view back to Walton.

Life journey of Victor happen after he own his obsession, and his life journey

consist of three parts which is similar with Kierkergard’s existentialism stages of

human life. Aesthetical stage happens when Victor Frankenstein obsessed toward

science and wants to get power of immortality of science by creating a new creature.

Here, Victor is only influenced by his temporary emotion and does not thinking about

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and his way to fulfil his obsession. Victor does not even think about his family and

only care about the project he made.

Furthermore, the next stage is Ethical stage. Ethical stage of Victor

Frankenstein life happen when he finally found his moral after he saw the monster he

has creates does not come out like he always hoping. He starting to get a normal life

again and thinking that what he has done is abandoned his family and only focuses on

his obsession without thinking about his social surrounding. But, even if he already

found himself and his moral, Victor still does not realize that creating a monster and

its bad effect is because of him not because of the monster. It means that Victor does

not realize which point makes him wrong.

And the last stage is Religious stage, in this stage human starting to realize

about the Almighty. Here, Victor’s existentialism stages move to religious stage after

he having experience of family lost. One by one of his family is being murdered by

the monster because monster did not want Victor to live in joy. Monster wants Victor

to live in misery because Victor has created the monster in that way, Victor also did

not want to fulfil the monster’s offer to create another creature same as the monster.

Here, in religious stage Victor realize that all the misery happen in his life is because

his own fault, because of his obsession Victor did not think about the effect and he

did not think further that only God can make a creature. He started to realize the

existence of The Almighty.

It can be concluded that, the three stages of Victor Existentialism life happen

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