Author: Mary Shelley
Page Number: 166 Pages
Genre: Classic
Publisher: Dover Publications
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Book Number of 2018: 55 of 60
Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature’s hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.
Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.
“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel…” Mary Shelley’s Frankensteinfocuses on a monster who just wants to be loved and included in his maker’s life. Victor Frankenstein, in the peak of his scientific endeavors, created a monster to be like humans but superior in every way. The question that continues to plague readers after the first encounter with the monster and Frankenstein: Who is the real monster?
Frankensteinwas written by Mary Shelley, a female author. However, the novel focuses on Frankenstein and his male creation, the monster. Through these two male characters, Shelley emphasizes the need for women in the world, especially their place in caring for life and bringing life into the world. Shelley’s novel incorporates women, but only in small doses. For example, Elizabeth and Victor love each other and eventually get married. However, Elizabeth plays a minor role throughout the novel since the point of view focuses on Victor’s life and endeavors. Shelley leaves readers understanding the need for women.
Another part of the novel that stood out to me was the frame story. At the start of the novel, we learn about Walton writing letters to his sister on his adventure to learn more about science. While up north, Walton meets Frankenstein, who shares his dreaded tale with Walton to give him a warning about what he is embarking on. At the end of the novel, readers return to the frame story where Walton is finishing his explanation of the story to his sister. Does the frame story add to the novel? Is the frame story needed? I believe the frame story is beneficial because readers see Victor’s need to share the terrible story of his life as a warning to Walton. The frame story promotes the idea that sharing your misfortunes helps others from repeating the same things. Therefore, the frame story adds depth, a lesson, and emphasis to Frankenstein’s tale that otherwise may not be as important.
When reading about the monster throughout Frankenstein, readers see the monster is never given a name. What is the reason for this lack of name? Do names make people human? The argument throughout the novel points to the fact that names do make people human. Without a name, the monster is simply that – a monster. If the monster had been given a name, readers could identify with the monster because there would be more to him. Also, names imply a lot about a character as seen through Shelley’s decision on the names for the cottage people. The peoples’ names are Felix, which means successful, Agatha, which means good, and Safie, which means pure or wisdom. Names indicate a lot about a person, and since the monster had no name, he continued to embody the monster mentality and name.
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!”
“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel…”
Rader of the Books 