A review by perenian
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Frankenstein provides insight into the dual natures of the human condition through a Gothic tale, provoking introspective thought and (in some cases) horror. Mary Shelley uses this haunting narrative to engage with intellectual and ethical questions in an intriguing manner, and the result of her musings is the story of Victor Frankenstein (& the monster).

If Frankenstein represents scientific enquiry, his monster is a scientific experiment gone wrong. He is feared by not only society, but also his creator, and in his isolation he learns. He learns about himself and the world around him; he learns to care for his adopted family, he learns that he is lonely, and he learns about revenge. The monster represents the outcast, a monster who becomes the monster because everyone perceives him to be such. Through him, Shelley’s beliefs are laid bare: society not only creates the monsters, but deserves them. If the monster is to be believed, if he began good and became evil, then the moral of his story is that accepting outcasts is mankind’s responsibility. The monster is the flip side of Frankenstein’s psyche - without Frankenstein, he loses all meaning to his created life, and chooses to be in control of his own destiny.