Frankenstein: I think of a large, grotesque, slow moving imbecile. I am of course thinking of the movie and not the gothic work of Mary Shelly. It seems that Hollywood has gone to great lengths to distort what “Frankenstein” is. The monster is just the monster, he doesn’t have a name. I feel that giving him a name is too normal. A name would show that he could fit into society, but it would be impossible for him. The perception of what the monster is and what he appears to be are explored through the novel. Shelly provides so many more layers to the monster and his creator
Frankenstein is an obvious gothic novel, there is the creation of an unnatural life. The monster coming to life sets an uneasy feeling tone. To see a man walk and talk is normal, but the monster, although alive, is uncanny and terrifying. Questions of who controls life and death play on the fears people have about their own mortality. If a scientist can play “God” why believe in anything? An isolation lies in that question, and isolation is felt by Victor himself. He throws himself into work and disregards his family and friends. Victor’s unfortunate for the unknown secrets of science have led him to the secret of life. What appears to be a wildly fantastic discovery, is now the horrific image that haunts his dreams. Victor flees his creation, until they collide on Victor is finally able to hear, from the monster himself, his life.
The monster in Mary Shelly’s novel is the exact opposite of what the movie portrays, but has the characteristics of what a good monster or antagonist should be: strong, elegant with their speech, and well rounded character. The monster has the ability to rely his own account of his life with a sadness. No matter how hard her tries, he can’t fit into normal society.
