Intertextual Frankenstein Analysis

The character of Victor Frankenstein directly parallels Chis McCandless, main character of Into the Wild, in many ways. Both Chis and Frankenstein isolate themselves from the people around them in order to pursue their goals. Into the Wild and Frankenstein share the theme of characters becoming obsessed with their purpose to the point where nothing else matters to them. This leads to the characters forgetting what is truly important and thus destroying themselves. Despite the fact that Frankenstein and Chris both become equally obsessed with achieving their goals, the goals they are attempting to achieve are the antithesis of each other. While Chris rejects all technology in order to engulf himself in nature, Frankenstein rejects all nature to engulf himself in technology. Chis comes to take on the archetypal role of the "survivor-man". while Frankenstein comes to take on the role of a "mad scientist". A philosophy portrayed in both Frankenstein and Into the Wild is that technology carries with it a destructive nature. Chris' dependence on technology leads him to be unable to survive without it on account of his not having the knowledge of how to live without it, while Frankenstein's obsession with technology and advancement causes him to lose his senses and forget about his health and the world around him. Chris' dependence on technology costs him his life, as he so greatly isolated himself that there was no one to save him when he was in need. Frankenstein, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to be saved by Henry early enough that he ended up ill rather than dead; "This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for many months"(Shelley 38). The fact that Frankenstein was saved by human contact supports the universal truth that humans need others to survive. A motif found in both Frankenstein and Into the Wild is the need to feel strong. Chris combats the forces of nature to help him feel strong, while Frankenstein devotes himself to creating a perfect race to help him feel strong. Both characters let their egos get in the way and undertake their journeys completely alone, dooming them when their plans go awry.