The practice of literary criticism through psychoanalysis centers on Freud's belief that authors, readers, and even characters are motivated by unconscious but controlling desires. These desires are filtered, made as socially acceptable as possible, and rationalized by the mind of their guardian, while keeping the original motivations secret in the unconscious. Since filtering has masked desires, literary criticism is used to find what has been unconsciously chosen as an acceptable representation for them. The critic then deciphers certain aspects of the characters, such as dreams, personal relationships, sexual habits (or lack thereof) or obsessions. Reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein through a psychoanalytic lens, it is evident that the death of Victor's mother, combined with his rapid and solitary departure to parts unknown, brought to life the overwhelming aspects of the dependent but self-involved personality that his education instilled in him. [Victor's] parents were indulgent and [his] companions kind", constituting a "domestic circle, from which worries and pain seemed forever banished", he unfortunately learns that "[his] life had hitherto been remarkably isolated. and domestic,” to his own disadvantage (Shelley 52; 56; 60). Victor admits “no youth could have passed happier than his,” without the most superficial arguments, upheavals, and tragedies (Shelley 52). These little upheavals that occur in childhood and which prepare children for the trials they will one day face alone. He knows nothing of loneliness, need, sacrifice or mourning. He also does not develop the social skills required to meet people outside his family members. Even... middle of paper ...... had to leave the cluster for a while is his dearest friend, Clerval. Victor even lets Walton know that the family is "never completely happy when Clerval is away." (Shelley 52). Due to his clear dependence on his family, the other complications that come with Victor's departure are simply too much. To the detriment of everything else, he ceases to respond to anything other than what is familiar to him, his beloved and faithful natural philosophy. He continues on the path his parents set for him, even if it is paved through the graves of the recently deceased. Due to his indulgent and isolated childhood, Victor Frankenstein severely lacks the desired amount of humanity long before his offspring takes their first breath. Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. Second ed. New York: WW Norton, 2012. Apple iBook.