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A gothic classic written in 1816 still resonates with readers nearly two centuries after its inception. Frankenstein is a vividly captivating tale which horrifies, and engrosses the reader all at once leaving no details unexamined, and playing on our every emotion both empathically and sympathetically.

The story of Frankenstein was created by Mary Shelley in the summer of 1816 while on holiday with friends. Each took turns telling ghost stories putting them to paper, needless to say Mary Shelley won, and the story was published and wildly popular during her own time. Frankenstein is a complex story filled with our own curiosity, and innate desire to know our creator, to be accepted and understood by society.

A nameless monster whose creator, Victor Frankenstein, is a well-educated gentleman, an idealist, a romantic, a natural philosopher, and one who desires to know the secrets of life, or as written in the novel, nature. His quest for knowledge leads him to think he has found the secrets of life, and he spends month creating the monster from old body parts.

Once Frankenstein has accomplished the task of bringing the monster to life he is horrified by what he has done and flees his apartment stricken with shame. When he does return he finds the monster has disappeared which leaves him feeling great remorse. Frankenstein then begins his search for the monster. But first his father sends word that his younger brother has been murdered. Frankenstein returns home and sees the monster in the woods near his family's home and believes that his monster has created the murder.

A young girl, adopted by the Frankenstein's, is accused and convicted of the murder. Frankenstein is overwhelmed with grief and seeks solace in the mountains where he encounters his monster who begs him to create him a mate. Frankenstein initially refuses, but the monster convinces him. The monster is well spoken and convincing and so Frankenstein creates another monster. Frankenstein is then haunted by his own creation while creating the task put before him, and after seeing the monster watching him he aborts the task; drowning the female creation in the river.

The monster is furious and threatens to haunt Frankenstein always. Frankenstein tracts the monster to the far north into the ice where he falls into the icy water and is found by Walton, one of the narrator's of the story. Frankenstein dies aboard Walton's ship, and when he goes into check on his sick passenger he finds the monster crying over the lifeless body of his creator. The monster says he too can now die, and departs into the northern ice to die as well.

The story is riveting, compelling, and touches on the core essence of our own lives and our creator. Creation is a topic everyone is interested in, and wanting a relationship with our creator is innately human, and a spiritual quest we all seek. Mary Shelley created a classic that will continue to be read and admired for another two plus centuries.

Learn more about this author, R.P. Bailey.
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