Review: "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein may be downloaded for free from our ebook catalog.
As a nuts-and-bolts Science Fiction fan for several decades, I avoided reading Frankenstein because the name had been caught up in endless cliches and had been inextricably linked with the horror genre, which I considered a repository for bad science fiction. However, when tasked with finding works by female authors for this website, Frankenstein was one of the only ones I could find that was remotely linked to my favorite genre. Now I have to admit that I am sorry I waited so long.
First published in 1817, Mary Shelley started writing Frankenstein when she was just 18. She was so far ahead of her time that another notable science fiction book by a woman would not appear for another 128 years. The story may be a little soft on science (even to the point of calling science "natural philosophy") and it is admittedly more about psychology. But it is nonetheless a fascinating study, encompassing such concepts as obsession, cowardice, irresponsibility, and retribution.
Shelley brilliantly captures the enthusiasm with which young persons embrace new endeavors, sometimes oblivious to the consequences that might ensue. She presents an allegory that questions the principle: what is good must also be beautiful. At the same time she creates a vivid picture of the pain of maturing and coming to terms with one's past actions.
Protagonist Victor Frankenstein is an embodiment of the philosophy that you make your own heaven and hell. He created a huge but hardy creature, and upon giving it the breath of life he determined this creature to be too horrible to accept. Rather than deal with the creature, Victor flees, leaving his hideous creation to fend for himself. His unwillingness to either accept the creature or comply with his requests prompted the abandoned creature to turn to vengeance and violence. As readers we are thankful that Victor Frankenstein left no offspring, as perhaps they too would fail to meet his standards.
Frankenstein is not only an interesting window into the mind of a genius; it is also a vivid depiction of the social mores of the early nineteenth century, and how much society at large has and has not changed in the past two centuries. Would the world's current societies overcome revulsion to the creature's ugliness in favor of his eagerness to please and desire for acceptance?
Discussion
Post a Comment
Support Free Ebooks
I watched a documentary on Mary this summer. She is quite an interesting woman who put up with a lot in her life and suffered great losses.
I agree with you. I was reading her biography and there was a lot of tragedy and death in her life. I feel bad for the poor girl.
Mary Shelley's life (and even that of her parents and grandparents) would be a very interesting topic of discussion. Her forbears led a bohemian lifestyle, and Mary herself suffered some almost unbearable tragedies including the loss of a child shortly before (after?) her husband's death in a boating accident.
I found Mary Shelley's book to be something quite different then what the public makes it out to be. I thought that there would be a lot more horror and I thought it would be easy to be disgusted by Frankenstein however that was not the case. When I read this book I felt very sorry for this poor creation that had only kind intentions at first. It is sad to say that a lot of people in this world look at beauty first rather then the heart.
Kayla,
I would have to agree with you. I also felt sympathy for the creature and how horrible he was treated not only by Frankenstein but society around him. I started to see the creature more human when he reached out for acceptance. Also when he asked the questions that we all ask in our lifetime. Who am I? Why am I here? What was the purpose of my creation? (Something similiar to that) He showed anger, vengance, the want of a companion, love and at the end remorse.
I honestly didn't miss the gore or the horror. The way Mary Shelly wrote the book the horror wasn't needed because your own imatination is all that was needed.
Rosa
Kayla,
You are very right, Frankenstein is very different from what most people would expect. I would venture to say it does contain a lot of horror, only not in the sense most people would immediately think of. I think that the real horror can be seen in the unending string of tragedies that make up the plot of the book. As I read the book, I was most frightened by the sufferings that both Victor and the monster faced. It is sad and tragic, but I think it may even be accurate to say that Frankenstein is a very close comparison to Mary Shelley's life in regard to pain, loss, and suffering.
So very true. The real horror of Society is the ugliness that is hidden within ourselves. The old Greek philosophy that "that which is good must also be beautiful" was (and perhaps still is) a strong fallacy by which we live. Thus, those who are treated badly because they look bad are made into monsters via the Hawthorne Effect--the self fulfilling prophecy.
The beauty of Shelley's depiction of horror is more that which lurks within the shadows rather than what is splashed across the page. To get my drift, watch the movie "Signs" with Mel Gibson. What makes it so scary is that we don't see the "monsters" except in the shadows, and finally in a short, grainy home movie clip reminiscent of the videos we have seen of Bigfoot.
Reading "Frankenstein" is not what one expects, since too many adaptations have been made in pop culture. What an imagination Mary Shelley must have had, and what a shame that so few people are ever introduced to the real creature created by Victor Frankenstein! Glad you have joined the ranks.
Reading "Frankenstein" was a great adventure. I had to read this in my English class and loved it. The sad part is I would have not read this book if it was not for my English class. I love how the book represented how one can feel and react to something such as the feeling of being wanted, jelousy, or even revenge due to the lack of feeling loved. I agree with Amanda that it does contain a lot of horror but not in a frightning way. It is more of a horror of sadness. This book really shows true feelings that we all have. We all want to be wanted and loved. Not abandoned like Victor did with his creation. And I also think that if we are not getting that feeling of love or wanting then we try to take revenge in some way like Frankenstein did when he murdered Victors family member. I am not saying we will go out and murder someone but there are people that have destroyed ones property because of the loss of love, or people that get angry and become negative with everyone around them, etc. This book has a good story line but also it points out what we as god creation need.
If looked upon through a different perspective, we may analyse that the story demomstrates the failure of human beings to parent their offspring in such a way that they will be able to take part in society rather than retreat into themselves.