I’m not one for horror movies. I’ve watched very few horror
movies in my life, and I barely sat through them! The same goes for horror
stories. But to classify Frankenstein as simply a horror novel is doing a huge
disservice to the deep emotional themes handled in the book.
The story behind how the novel came to be is interesting in
itself. Apparently Mary Shelley had to think up a theme for a horror story, and
the idea of Frankenstein came to her in an early morning dream. Of course,
there are those who dispute this, but none of that takes away from the magnificence
of her novel.
Victor Frankenstein is a kind of ‘mad scientist’ who
practically lives in his lab and discovers the magic that gives a human body its
life force. He puts together a rather large human body with parts from cadavers
and slaughter houses, and uses the knowledge of his magic to breathe life into
it. And lo, his creature is born!
This ‘creature’ does not really have a name in the book,
although it has come to be referred to as Frankenstein in popular culture. While
erroneous, this nomenclature is accepted today, although in the book he is
referred to as ‘wretch’, ‘fiend’ and similar unsavory terms. This isn’t
surprising, given his yellow skin and gigantic stature that lend to his hideous
appearance, and causes his creator, the doctor, to run away as soon as he comes
to life.
The kind of names the creature is called would naturally
have you believe that he is pure evil. However, by the time you finish the
book, your sympathies are likely to turn towards the monster. That’s not to say
that you can’t understand the doctor’s predicament. The fact that you respect
and understand both of them shows the depth and brilliance of Shelley’s
writing.
Frankenstein handles many themes like religion, ethics and
basic humanity. But despite its seemingly eerie setting, this is a story that
touches your heart and makes you hurt for that wretched, forlorn human-monster
wandering in the wilderness.
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