An Analysis Of The Id In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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People are different individuals at different stages of their lives. They grow up, learn from their mistakes, and become more aware of the people around them. According to Sigmund Freud one develops mentality in stages, these stages are classified as the Id, one’s primal desires present from birth. The Ego, one's attempt to make decisions, to reach one’s desires, based on socially acceptable ways. The Superego, conscience that censors your actions, in others words what you should do. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts these three stages showcasing them on the evolving personality of the monster. It is shown as time goes on the monster starts to want human companionship and closer connection to others. The monster starts out with basic primal needs. When he first onto the world he is yearning for basic human necessities to keep himself alive. “I felt tormented by hunger and thirst. This roused me from my nearly dormant state, and I ate some berries which I found hanging on the trees.” This would be the Id of the monster …show more content…
“My days were spent in close attention, that I might more rapidly than the Arabian, who understood very little, and conversed in broken accents.” (Page 101) The monster understands the importance of language and of communicating with people so he takes it upon himself to better this. He gains insight into the world of mankind from a book and Felix talking about human societies. “A man might be respected with only one of these advantages; but without either, he was considered, except in rare instances, as a vagabond and slave, doomed to waste his powers for the profits of the chosen few! And what as I?” (Page 102) The monster even develops an existential crisis and excites himself at the wonders of the world and what it means to be man. (Elaborate on the existence of the monster realizing his ego and

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