Author: ssteele

Shelby, Libby, & Meredith’s Final Paper

Libby Wruck, Shelby Steele, Meredith Miller

ENGL 384-01

Dr. Foss

April 28, 2020

Reading Victor Frankenstein as Autistic

    Autistic characters often appear in Victorian literature, although there was no concept of autism during that time. By retrofitting a modern diagnosis to a piece of gothic literature, we are making the claim that a character is autistic, not an autistic person. This means that the characteristics that we associate with autism are not necessarily accurate to the real life experience of autism, nor should these stereotypical characteristics be used as a reference for real people with autism. Using Stuart Murray’s “Autism” as a baseline on the current knowledge of the condition and as well as the current diagnostic materials found in DSM-V we make the argument that Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel, “Frankenstein” can be read as autistic.

    Our modern understanding of autism is based on the facts that were given by Murray. It is agreed that the knowledge on autism is based less so on the definitive signs and symptoms and many autistic people present various traits. Many of the symptoms have become stereotypes, so we use the book by Murray to separate the harmful stereotypes from the variations of Victor’s experiences. Although autism is relatively undefinable as the experience is varied, we use patterns of traits that are found in autistic people in modern times to create this diagnosis. We admit to not being medical professionals; we make this ‘diagnosis’ as an observation using our acquired knowledge on the condition. Some traits that can be grouped into a social interaction category are of atypical relationships or negative relationships with those who are neurotypical, either heightened or lack of empathy, and overall discomfort in social situations. Similarly, we outline some behavioral traits as special interests, isolation, a lack of sense of personal danger, the prominence of masking, and atypical reactions. Masking is a common autistic concept where an autistic person hides their autistic traits in an attempt to blend in with neurotypical society. 

    One of the most defining aspects of Victor Frankenstein’s character, is his construction of the creation. He spends the years leading up to his creation studying vigorously at school, “Two years passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva”(Shelley 22). He is hyper-fixating on this project at the cost of his social bonds with his family and his own health. Frankenstien’s need to complete his experiment at all costs can be associated with the modern interpretation of autistic men’s special interest with STEM, though this is a stereotype. Frankenstein can even be read as a savant, a harmful stereotypical trait the media associates with autistic men. 

    Frankenstein does not have typical responses to death and the human body, “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy, and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm. Now I was led to examine the cause and progress of this decay and forced to spend days and nights in vaults and charnel-houses. My attention was fixed upon every object the most insupportable to the delicacy of the human feelings”(38). He only views a body as a body, not a person who has lived. This lack of empathy and connection between a body and a person reveals some of the workings of an atypical mind. Frankenstein tries to mask when interacting with the creation; “I thought that as I could not sympathize with him, I had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which was yet in my power to bestow” (129). He does not agree to make the creation a wife out of sympathy for his plight, he does it because he does not want the creation to keep bothering or threatening him. This lack of empathy can be found in people with autism, not to coincide with a lack of empathy in autistic characters with evil actions, though this connection will be touched upon later.  

    Even Frankstein’s responses to social interaction fit under the purview of autism. Early in the book, he describes his social comfort as “It was my temper to avoid a crowd and to attach myself fervently to a few. I was indifferent, therefore, to my schoolfellows in general; but I united myself in the bonds of the closest friendship to one among them” (24). Victor is content with his few friends and has little desire to make more, this can also be read as him either not knowing how to make more friends or his classmates not being able to understand his behavior. Because of his lack of typical empathy as shown above, his relationships with his family are damaged because they are unable to understand this lack of interaction with them as not indifference, but rather an inability to understand their desire for this interaction.

    With the modern knowledge of autism, the traits of Victor Frankenstein portrayed in Mary Shelley’s novel hold an austistic narrative. Many autistic stereotypes are viewed as negative in both fictional works and reality; however, stereotypes are what must be used in reading characters as every case is different. The common public perception of autism results in a stereotypical expression of people with autism in all forms of media, including literature. A reading of Victor Frankenstien as autistic gives insight into the negative portrayals and stereotypes associated with autistic people. Throughout the novel, Victor makes decisions neither the characters nor the readers fully understand, resulting in the villainization of the character. This is because the other characters and the readers expect a neurotypical response, while Victor is unable to react in that way. Because of this, the creation is given a more sympathetic narrative, despite Victor losing his entire family and best friend as well as people’s inability to sympathize with Victor’s neurodiversity. The stereotypical autistic traits Victor portrays have a direct correlation to why he is read as evil and often viewed as the antagonist of the novel. Much of the treatment for autistic people is determined by public perception of autism that is fueled by stereotypes. Thus, making Shelley’s use of stereotypes to be both negative and positive. 

Word count: 1022

I hereby declare upon my word of honor that I have neither given nor received unauthorized help on this work.

Shelby Steele’s Response to “Good Kings, Bad Kings”

Susan Nussbaum’s “Good Kings, Bad Kings” is not only commentary on how disabled people are treated in institutions, but also how many of these institutions are run for profit, not for fair treatment of the disabled children living within them. They are focused on making another dollar and do not care for the residents as much as they should. 

    In this portion of the reading (pgs. 143-205) the character Michelle Volkmann, who works for Whitney-Palms, is tasked with assessing people who may have mental and/or physical disabilities to determine if they belong in institutions. She only has one chapter in this portion but it is very important in showing the reader how places such as ILLC, Illinois Learning and Life Skills Center, care more about the money than their residents. Michelle talks about Riverwood, another institution under the parent company Whitney-Palm, and the death of a girl who lived there. The girl was found tied to a wheelchair, though she had the ability to walk, and died because she suffocated from the tightness of her ties. Though she was said to have been frequently checked up on, it took the aides over six hours to realize she was dead. After mentioning this death, Michelle moves right into how money comes into play. She seems apathetic towards the girl and more focused on Tim, her boss, and his anger. He is angry about the fine Whitney-Palms will have to pay because the parents of the girl want an investigation. Michelle says there is no reason for him to be upset, as Whitney-Palms will most likely not pay the fine because “it’s not like anyone ever pays the fines anyway.” (188).  When she speaks to Tim about her ideas for updating their technology, he thinks it’s a good idea but he wants her to think of more ways to increase their revenue instead. They discuss the idea of putting three beds in each room instead of the normal two. They focus on how they can save money from this, but do not even mention how the residents would be negatively impacted. 

    Michelle then speaks of the Pine Hills case, in which a sexual predator was placed in a room with a child after the institution was given specific instructions to give him a room by himself. Though Tim says they fired the person responsible for the placement of the sexual predator, giving him his own room would have cost Whitney-Palms more money. Michelle mentions another fine Whitney-Palm will have to pay due to the Pine Hills case, saying “some politicians said it should be bigger than what we usually pay.” (191). The only sympathetic response Michelle ever has towards both of these instances is when she says “The thing that led to the fine was really sad.” (191). Besides this sentence, she is apathetic, except when she says Tim deserves to pay a fine because the little kid who was molested hung himself. 

    Michelle Volkmann, like the company she works for, is focused on getting her paycheck and moving on. She does not care for the residents, and simply does her job. Though this can be said for the majority of society, it is concerning she never has a thought to ‘rebel’ or speak up against the wrongdoings of Whitney-Palms. 

I pledge: Shelby Steele

Word Count: 556

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