Frankenstein Essay, Research Paper

Frankenstein

Frankenstein is an intriguing novel in respect to its haunting and powerful story and its effective development. From the monster?s murders to the monster?s need for companionship the story is truly diverse. The story itself is about a man who created a “monster” that messes with nature, and nature comes back to mess with him. After all, nature is more powerful than a single man. The reader is manipulated to feel compassion for the dejected monster, as well as sympathy for the agonizing Victor Frankenstein. As with any outsider that is rejected it is only natural to feel sorry for him/her, but in this case it is more than expected. Both of these characters are so well spoken, the reader devours the words in anticipation. All gothic stories have many qualities in common. In addition to the gothic elements, there is a sense of remoteness and indefiniteness; that is, we are never told exactly where Frankenstein creates his monster, except that it is in Ingolstadt, and how Henry Clerval and the monster get to the coast of Ireland is still unexplained. Parts of Frankenstein take place in Ingolstadt, in Geneva, on a Scottish island and, as noted, in Ireland, where Henry is mysteriously killed. Thus, the story has many different settings, all of which have a direct correlation to the story. There are many tragic flaws in the novel. Victor?s lack of forethought can be considered as one – Victor labors seemingly endless hours to create the new being without even considering the rather obvious dangers. Martin Tropp states that the monster is, “?designed to be beautiful and loving, it is loathsome and unloved,” clearly it is Frankenstein?s lack of foresight. Victor does not realize his fault until it is too late, and the monster lives. Another tragic flaw is Frankenstein?s failure to accept a flawed creation; Victor, upon beholding the hideous countenance of the monster, rejects it. Supported by Joyce Oates saying, “The creature is in one sense an infant – a comically eight foot baby – whose progenitor rejects him immediately after creating him. “The Monster in Frankenstein, sublime in his ugliness, his simplicity, his passions, his wrongs, and his strength, physical and mental, embodies in the wild narrative more that one distinct and important moral theory or proposition,” stated Richard Horne in 1844. In short, this novel supports a number of underlying themes. Among the themes; friendship, the nature of humanity, and the role of God. Many of the main characters are yearning for a close relationship with another. In fact, it is the friendship (or lack of) that drove the monster to his viscous deeds. These viscous deeds include the murder of Victor?s youngest brother William, his best-friend Henry, and Victor?s wife Elizabeth. The unfortunate conditions of the monster lead directly into the theme of humanity. The novel demonstrates the judgmental nature of man. The monster is lonely and wanted only to interact with others. However, to the monster?s misfortune, he is rejected, feared, and even physically abused. Another focus of the story is evident in Victor?s insanity and poorly planned undertaking. Victor is used as an example to warn against man?s interference with God and nature. Thus, Victor paid for his ignorance dearly, as did his loved ones. Also visible within Shelley?s novel is a use of, as weird as it may seem, romanticism. This is supported by Harold Bloom, stating that, “Mary Shelley, with marvelous appropriateness, brings her Romantic novel to demonic conclusion?” This is also evident in the story, whereas the monster asks for a companion, but, sadly, he is denied. Thus, increasing the monster?s passion for revenge against Dr. Frankenstein. Her incorporation of the romanticism is truly amazing – who would have thought that this gothic horror story could also be considered as a love story?quite a feat for an eighteen-year old girl to accomplish. As great as this novel may be, Frankenstein has a flaw. The fault that I discovered was Shelley?s inability to individualize each character?s dialogue. It lacked somewhat of a vernacular sense. Example, if one were to read plain dialogues from the story, he/she would be unable to distinguish the monster from Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is a classic tale of gothic horror that has gripped the popular imagination for centuries. It contains great dramatic ideas – the prospect of creating life, a man playing God, and a disadvantaged creature who discovers wisdom and compassion. It resonates anew today in our age of genetic cloning and replaceable human parts.

? Harold Bloom. From the Afterword to Frankenstein. Signet-NAL, 1965. ? Richard Hengist Horne. “Mrs. Shelley,” A New Spirit of the Age. Ed. Richard Hengist Horne (1844). The World?s Classics. Oxford University Press, 1907. ? Joyce Carol Oates. “Frankenstein: Creation as Catastrophe.” Mary Shelley?s Frankenstein. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. ? Martin Tropp. Mary Shelley?s Monster. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1976.