Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

And here concludes yet another reread of a book I loved when I was a high school student. Unsurprisingly (as I have not been disappointed thus far), I think I enjoyed it just as much now as I did back then.

Frankenstein definitely reads "like an old book," which is to be expected from a novel originally published over 200 years ago. At the start, the plot crawls at a snail's pace, and we (the readers) have to endure with each introduction of a new character a whole chapter detailing their entire life story. This was a bit tedious even for me, and I consider myself to be a fairly patient reader. Fortunately, all necessary introductions are gotten out of the way in the first quarter of the novel, and the story builds from there into a tale that is equal parts thrilling, tragic, and spectacular.

I was able to appreciate something new during this second reading of Frankenstein that I do not recall having paid any attention to when I was younger, and that is the importance of the natural world in the context of the story: its beauty, its cleansing effect on the characters as a source of emotional release, and its symbolism as a reflection of their emotional lives. Nature seems to play an important role in the story, and some of my favorite quotes from the book describe the feelings evoked by immersing oneself in it.

"These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquilized it... The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of solemnizing my mind and causing me to forget the passing cares of life."

Of course, I can't wrap up my review without saying something about Frankenstein's monster. He might be one of my favorite villains in literature. He is highly sympathetic, sensitive, and intelligent; yet still undeniably fearsome and evil. It is very interesting to me that Mary Shelley chose to portray him as benevolent and gentle from the moment of his creation, asserting the belief that all people are born good. His subsequent abandonment and alienization are what make him truly become a monster, suggesting that outside forces mold the individual into what they are.

"Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred."

Apparently, this novel is loaded with explicit references to Paradise Lost and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, neither of which I have read, so this was all lost on me. In fact, I only learned of this recently when I was nearly finished with the book. I think if I were to read these two poems that influenced Shelley and return to Frankenstein again afterwards, I might be able to enjoy the book even more. I'll try to include them in my future reading plans.

I'm afraid I could only recommend this book to patient readers who are really interested in the classics, or lovers of gothic fiction. The beginning would probably be too much of a slog for most people to get through, although I think the payout is absolutely worth it. I would also say that this is a story that is more emotional and psychological than it is truly horrific, so try not to get into it with the wrong expectations. There is nothing grotesque or overtly disturbing (by today's standards, I guess) within this story.

Content Warnings

kelisabeth's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I tried reading Frankenstein several years ago but didn’t get past the first few pages. Attempting it again, I was surprised at how absorbed I became. Not so much in the story itself, but the questions pondered, particularly involving the 'being'.

After seeing endless spoofs in TV shows or movies, I went into this expecting some form of satire. That's not to say I was under the impression this was a comedy… I'm not sure how to put my exact expectations into words. Anyway, as it went on, I got the gothic feel, though I wouldn't personally consider this a horror story. Twisted, but not particularly scary. It felt very literary.

I found Victor easy to dislike and I sympathized more with his creation at first. Then the tables turned, and then by the end, I wasn't sure who I ought to root for. I love books that leave me feeling unsettled. I also think listening to this book on audio also made the difference. The narrator did a fantastic job portraying the being. It added so much to the atmosphere of the story. I'm already looking forward to a future reread.

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