Frankenstein, A Psychoanalytical Approach

Further analyzing the dream, Collings states “clearly the turn from erotic ideal to grotesque body horrifies Victor, and in this respect he is a responsible citizen of the symbolic realm, longing for Elizabeth rather than the mother” (Collings 282). Freud defined condensation as having several thoughts or persons condensed into a single manifestation or image in a story; this concept was used by Freud to explain “the mental processes whereby the mind disguises its wishes and fears in the dream stories” (267). Victor goes beyond the disassociation of his conscious and unconscious, by condensing his mother and all the repressed sexual desire for her onto the Creature, one of the reasons he immediately rejects the Creature while in his conscious/symbolic state of mind.

In Ingolstadt, Victor continues to isolate himself, begins a manic pursuit to gain knowledge only in areas that he can relate to his desire to renew life. Victor studies forbidden ancient philosophers in order to explore the forbidden side of his unconscious mind, seeking rebirth for his mother and himself. He describes his work as a storm, “no one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards like a hurricane” (58); Victor expresses the extent of his mania, the conflicting feelings that swirl around inside him, the turmoil they cause. Overwhelmed with feelings of grief at the loss of his mother, the only sexual partner he desires, Victor believes he will be able to “pour a torrent of light into our dark world” (58). Light, the avenger of evil forces, symbolizes the source of goodness; and the ultimate reality, purity, and morality. Darkness can be linked to the time spent in the womb and seed germination, both of which take place in the dark; darkness is the complementary opposite of light in a fundamental duality. Darkness can also encompass a primitive chaos, and the powers of that chaos; it is not essentially evil, yet it is largely associated with death and destruction. Victor struggles with his mother’s death and the evil forces, which took her away from him. He sees the world as dark and his mother as light, highlighting the power of his deep seeded, primitive feelings of death and longing for rebirth of himself and his mother.

Ice is a symbol of rigidity, frigidity, the waters of the earth as opposed to the fresh and living water. Water can be associated with birth; it can symbolize purification of the soul. Victor continually attempts to purify his soul, the boat symbolizes the femininity and “sheltering” aspect of the “Great Mother”, the cradle rediscovered, or mother’s womb. Victor tries to rediscover the cradle, renew the bond with his mother. Ice represents difficult and unexplored territory not conducive to human life and life in general. The Creature represents difficult unexplored territory for Victor. Victor did not finish his experiment, he did not explore the nature and true reason for his creation, ironically stunting the creature’s development as well. In psychology, Ice represents the dividing line between the conscious and the unconscious, representing Victor’s struggle between the imaginary and the symbolic order of life.

From the Creature’s first breath, Victor and the Creature spend most of their time in isolation, overly focused on each other, and unable to belong to a family or society or communicate their situation to others. One the fundamental opposite of the other, they are striving to resolve the disjointed relationship they have with each other. The Creature spends most of his time as an observer of others, describing for Victor events, which usually occur in the light of day. When not with man, he is usually found in a climate of ice. Victor describes events from

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