This term paper deals with Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s concept of the “noble savage“ and the use of this concept by Mary Shelley as a main theme in her famous novel Frankenstein. In the first chapter of this paper, I will focus on the noble savage myth and explain what exactly is meant by the term. I will also explain Rousseau’s theories of a state of nature as found in his work A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Further, I will shortly confront Rousseau’s theories with a quite opposite world view, namely that offered by Thomas Hobbes in his works Leviathan and De Cive.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Rousseau’s Concept of a “Noble Savage”
2.1 Opposite Theory: Thomas Hobbes
3. Frankenstein’s Monster as a “Noble Savage”
3.1 Arguments For Frankenstein’s Monster as a “Noble Savage”
3.2 The Monster’s Transition From a “Noble Savage” Into a Murderer
3.3 Reference to Paradise Lost by John Milton
4. Conclusion
5. List of Sources
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines whether the creature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein serves as a legitimate literary embodiment of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical concept of the “noble savage.” It explores the development of the monster’s character in relation to Rousseau’s theories of the state of nature, the corrupting influence of society, and the acquisition of human emotions and language.
- The theoretical definition of the “noble savage” myth according to Rousseau.
- A comparison of Rousseau’s humanistic perspective with the views of Thomas Hobbes.
- Analysis of the monster’s initial state of nature and his subsequent interaction with society.
- The impact of language acquisition and social rejection on the monster’s transition to violence.
- The influence of John Milton’s Paradise Lost on the monster’s identity and self-perception.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Arguments for Frankenstein’s Monster as a “Noble Savage”
As the monster’s story begins, he comes to life just to be abandoned immediately by his creator. He knows nothing of the world he has been born into and has no idea how things work in this world. He flees into the woods, living outside of civilization , being forced to learn by trial and error, living and sleeping surrounded by nature beneath the open sky.
As Edna C. Sorber points out in her work The Noble Eloquent Savage, “the myth of the ‘noble savage’ has been related historically to the myth of the ‘eloquent savage’”9, meaning to be a “noble savage” one must acquire the ability to talk and communicate with other people. Indeed, this concept is found in Frankenstein as well, when we witness the monster learning to understand speech and speak himself. By this, the monster elevates himself from his “original state to so-called civil society”10. The monster’s acquisition of speech actually closely corresponds to aspects mentioned in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Essay on the Origin of Language (Essai sur l'origine des langues in French). As Christian Bok puts it in his essay The Monstrosity of Reprensentation: Frankenstein and Rousseau:
“Frankenstein defines a progressive series of linguistic encounters, whose structure resembles the structure defined by Rousseau, a structure in which linguistic development moves sequentially from the inarticulate speech of nature to the articulate writing of culture […]”11
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central research question regarding the applicability of Rousseau's “noble savage” concept to the creature in Frankenstein and describes the intended methodological approach.
2. Rousseau’s Concept of a “Noble Savage”: This chapter defines the historical origins of the “noble savage” term and details Rousseau’s theory that humanity is peaceful by nature before being corrupted by social interdependence.
2.1 Opposite Theory: Thomas Hobbes: This section provides a brief contrast to Rousseau, outlining Hobbes’s belief in the necessity of a Commonwealth to regulate the naturally violent state of man.
3. Frankenstein’s Monster as a “Noble Savage”: This chapter explores how the monster initially mirrors Rousseau’s state of nature through his isolation and inherent benevolence.
3.1 Arguments for Frankenstein’s Monster as a “Noble Savage”: This section focuses on the monster’s acquisition of language and his natural compassion, which suggest an initial noble disposition.
3.2 The Monster’s Transition from a “Noble Savage” into a Murderer: This part analyzes the pivotal moment when social rejection and the acquisition of an "acquired sense of honor" transform the monster into a vengeful being.
3.3 Reference to Paradise Lost by John Milton: The final analytical section examines how the monster identifies with the figures of Adam and Satan to contextualize his own rejection and tragedy.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion confirms that the monster functions as a perfect example of a “noble savage” for a significant portion of the narrative before his corruption by society.
5. List of Sources: This section provides the complete bibliography of all primary and secondary literature cited in the paper.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Noble Savage, State of Nature, Thomas Hobbes, Paradise Lost, John Milton, Amour Propre, Corruption, Social Rejection, Language Acquisition, Gothic Literature, Literary Analysis, Human Nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the intersection of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical concept of the “noble savage” and its thematic application in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research covers 18th-century philosophy, the influence of social structures on human behavior, the development of linguistic capacity, and the literary analysis of Gothic themes.
What is the central research question?
The primary goal is to determine if Frankenstein’s monster can be considered a perfect example of a “noble savage” as described by Rousseau.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, confronting Rousseau’s and Hobbes’s philosophical theories with textual evidence from the novel Frankenstein.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body analyzes the monster’s developmental stages—from his initial isolation in the state of nature to his education, his rejection by society, and his eventual shift toward vengeance.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Frankenstein, Noble Savage, Rousseau, Nature vs. Nurture, Social Corruption, and Identity.
How does the author define the monster's transition into a murderer?
The author argues that the transition is driven by the monster’s acquisition of a socially-derived "sense of honor," which is subsequently injured by his rejection by the De Lacey family.
What role does Milton's Paradise Lost play in the argument?
The text is used to demonstrate how the monster interprets his own existence, comparing his abandonment to the experiences of Adam and Satan.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Gabriele Grenkowski (Autor:in), 2011, The Monster in Frankenstein with Regard to Rousseau’s Concept of the “Noble Savage”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/189629
