Comparative Analysis: Shelley’s Frankenstein and Brontë’s Jane Eyre

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Comparative Analysis
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein concentrates on a monstrous creation discriminated against by society for being different and ultimately outlasted. Victor creates a monster people fear because of his appearance, leading the monster to hide. The creature makes every effort to blend with people, but they reject him. The monster eventually gives up on craving human acceptance. Similarly, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre presents an orphaned child, Jane Eyre, who first faced abuse from her wealthy auntie, Mrs. Reed, who casts and sends her to a charity school. In the school, Jane encounters the school headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst, who is also abusive. When Jane eventually takes a job as a governess, she starts binding with Mr. Rochester, the estate owner. Mr. Rochester’s dark moods soon become a problem for Jane. When Jane uncovers the terrible secrets of the spouse, she is forced to flee and seek refuge elsewhere. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre display the theme of individualism extensively despite their character’s divergent fates.
In both narratives, society seeks to demonstrate why individual freedom is terrible, with the characters choosing to go against societal norms to achieve personal freedom. In Frankenstein, Victor is unique, curious, and daring. He chooses to pursue his interest and make a creature, despite his father and professors telling him it cannot work. Victor’s interest in odd sciences that others felt was no longer important demonstrates his quest to attain individual freedom in a society that thinks otherwise. Instead of following societal norms, Victor to follow his thought on what science should entail. Victor asserts, “The wonder of life had always interested me” (Shelly 20). Victor proceeds to question where life came from, and the quest drives him to study human biology. Eventually, Victor creates life from existing materials, resulting in a new creature that no one had ever seen. While one would expect that society celebrates Victor for the breakthrough achievement, he instead faces opposition.
Similarly, Jane Eyre portraits the heroine as someone who risks being neglected to escape the imprisonment of the mind. Jane knows that society expects her to be dependent and timid, like the other women. She, however, is willing to demonstrate that personal freedom is of importance to her. Jane is willing to do anything it takes to achieve liberty and be free from the dominance of anyone. Even as a child, Jane asserts her freedom when addressing her cruel auntie. ‘They are not fit to associate with me,’ Jane declares to her auntie (Brontë 38). The declaration catches the auntie by surprise and orders Jane, to remain quiet for the rest of the day. “What would Uncle Reed say to you, if he were alive?” Jane goes ahead to confront the cruel auntie (Brontë 38). The remark catches the auntie by surprise that she does not know whether Jane is a child or a friend. Further, Jane demonstrates that individual freedom is of essence to her. Jane says. “I desired liberty; for liberty, I gasped; for liberty, I uttered a prayer…&rdquo...