Rousseau

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein contradicts some main ideas as put forth in Rousseau's writing. In man's natural state, Rousseau states that man cares only about preserving his existence and at times also of creating new generations of man. He writes that man is largely independent and only rarely firms a group with other men, and only in an endeavour in which he needs assistance. The monster, when created, almost immediately seeks friendship of men, and longs for companionship. He wants this from anyone and everyone, and finally resorts to the demand of a female monster. The monster wants this for social reasons, as he can survive quite successfully on his own, like no ordinary man can. Although Rousseau believes man to be naturally good, his definition of primitive man does not seem to be that of a human. His definition lacks all qualities which we deem to make us different from other animals. Frankenstein's monster does not meet this animalistic definition, and therefore Shelley's novel does not support Rousseau's proposed idea of man's natural state.