by Rebecca Hubbs

Created on: December 20, 2008

Frankenstein Review
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is widely considered to be one of the best horror/ gothic novels ever written. It is dark and compelling, and closely examines the darker side of the human condition. The horrors visited upon one man become a warning for us all. It asks the question: how far is too far in the name of science?

The story begins in Geneva Switzerland with the young Victor Frankenstein who had always been keenly interested in science, specifically in the areas of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. We also meet his adopted cousin and sister Elizabeth. As well as his Mother and Father, all of whom are important to the story, but Victor Frankenstein is the main character and the story is told from his perspective. They are as happy a family as anyone could wish for and the beginning of the tale is thus, deceptively light- hearted. Victor soon goes to the town of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany. He goes to attend a school there and study science. It is here that he creates the monster.

I was surprised, having seen various Frankenstein films- that more description was not given for the process of the monster's creation. The entire endeavor takes up only a few pages and describes more of Victor's state of mind than his actual task. In fact, this is true throughout the book. There really isn't any scientific terminology used at all save to reference some ancient philosophers. This leads me to believe that Shelley had little to no knowledge of the sciences, and so any references to them are very broad and general. Rather than focusing on the scientific aspect, the book instead focuses on the emotional and human perspective.

We all have our own inner demons, but for the unfortunate Dr. Frankenstein, his demon is brought to life by his own hand. "It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open (Dr. Frankenstein- 51)." As the monster awakes, Victor realizes what he has done and hates the horrible, and hideous thing he has made. He shuns the beast and leaves it to fend for itself. "but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed from the room (Dr. Frankenstein- 51)."

A large portion of the book is devoted to the story of the monster and it's struggles

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