The Monster’S Bipolarity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore bipolar disorder on the monster’s psyche, as a result of trauma that he develops from the society in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This study follows the monster’s possible symptoms of bipolar disorder, and analyse them gradually, from the first stages of the disorder to more severe stages. It aims to prove the monster’s unstable mood, lack of identity, negative self-image, criminal behaviour, and suicidal thoughts in bipolar disorder symptoms’ frame. The study applies psychoanalysis, mainly the concept of bipolar disorder by Kraepelin, Falret, and Baillarger. This study follows a qualitative methodology to provide a deep analysis of the monster’s conflict with bipolar disorder on one side and the society on the other side. This concept is rarely studied on the novel from the monster’s perspective by scholars. Thus, the study’s main results are the investigation of bipolar disorder experience in the novel, and the main role of society in escalating the disorder.