frankenstein gothic literature essay

Frankenstein

Mary shelley, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Frankenstein: Introduction

Frankenstein: plot summary, frankenstein: detailed summary & analysis, frankenstein: themes, frankenstein: quotes, frankenstein: characters, frankenstein: symbols, frankenstein: literary devices, frankenstein: quizzes, frankenstein: theme wheel, brief biography of mary shelley.

Historical Context of Frankenstein

Other books related to frankenstein.

• Full Title: Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus
• When Published: 1818
• Literary Period: Switzerland and London, England: 1816–1817
• Genre: Gothic novel
• Setting: Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, and the North Pole in the 18th century
• Climax: The Monster's murder of Elizabeth Lavenza on her wedding night to Victor
• Antagonist: The Monster
• Point of View: Frankenstein is told through a few layers of first person narratives. Walton is the primary narrator, who then recounts Victor's first-person narrative. In addition, Victor's narrative contains the monster's first person story as well as letters from other characters.

Extra Credit for Frankenstein

A ghost story. On a stormy night in June of 1816, Mary Shelley, her husband, and a few other companions, including the Romantic poet Lord Byron, decided to try to write their own ghost stories, but Shelley couldn't come up with any ideas. A few nights later, she had a dream in which she envisioned "the pale student of unhallowed arts" kneeling beside his creation—the monster. She began writing the story that became Frankenstein the next morning.

The Tale of Two Frankensteins. Shelley published the first edition of Frankenstein anonymously, perhaps due to her concern that such a grim and violent tale would not be well received by her audience if they knew her gender. She revised the novel and published it under her real name in 1831. Some key differences exist between the editions, namely that in the first edition, Elizabeth is Alphonse's niece and, therefore, Victor's cousin. (In the 1831 edition, the more popular version and the one used in this Outline, the Frankensteins adopt Elizabeth from another family).

Frankenstein as a gothic novel

Gothic fiction is a genre of novel that incorporates dread, supernatural elements like ghosts and mysterious atmosphere. Most of the time in Gothic fiction the setting is gloomy and frightening to manifest the atmosphere of the novel.

Mary Shelley’s famous novel “Frankenstein” which was written in 1816 is also regarded as gothic fiction because it shows the characteristics of gothic fiction such as dread, gloomy settings, horror etc. “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, “ Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte “, and “The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole are some of the famous gothic fictions in English literature. 

Table of Contents

Gothic setting in Frankenstein:

One of the most prominent aspects of any gothic fiction is it’s dark and gloomy setting. Mary Shelley has also employed this type of dark setting a lot in her novel “Frankenstein” . After creating the monster, Dr. Frankenstein compares that monster to a scary night of November. The scene in which describes the creation of the monster augurs darkness to come further in the novel when Dr. Frankenstein states: “I saw, by the light of the moon, the daemon at the casement”(Mary Shelley, Frankenstein) . This statement reveals that the reader will always identify the monster with evil and darkness. 

Read More: Romanticism in English Literature

Mary Shelley also utilizes these dark settings to point out the seclusion and loneliness the monster experiences from the people. We can notice how secluded the monster was when he utters: “The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice which I only do not fear are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge.” (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein) This suggests that the monster has been abandoned by humans and hence the monster has been forced to live in a mountain away from the sight of humans. 

Read More: Preface to Lyrical Ballads summary and analysis

Terror and Horror situations in Frankenstein:

The important characteristic of any gothic fiction is evoking fear with frightful situations. Shelley’s novel Frankenstein conveys this characteristic too. When in the novel it is shown that how the monster goes to many places together with its devastating attributes it immediately brings about dreadful circumstances together with terror. For instance when the monster kills Dr. Frankenstein’s Wife Elizabeth on their Honeymoon Night there is extremely horrifying and frightful scenes packed with terror and horror. We can see many more such instances in the novel if we look at the actions of the Monster . 

In another scene, Monster meets a small child named William. At first, the Monster treats her well and calls her beautiful too. But when William starts screaming in fear and when the Monster learns that William is a member of Frankenstein’s family, Monster becomes furious and kills William. Such frightening scenes create a sense of fear in the mind of the reader and make Frankenstein novel a perfect Gothic novel. 

Read More: Wuthering Heights as a gothic novel

Dreams and Visions in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: 

Another important characteristic of Gothic fiction is dreams and visions. In chapter five of the novel, Frankenstein is at long last accomplished his desired aim of reanimation of dead human tissue. After that Frankenstein felt tired so he hurled himself on the bed without taking off his clothes. After sometime he falls into a deep sleep and sees a dream. In the dream, he first sees his future wife Elizabeth. He is so impressed by Elizabeth’s beauty that he proceeds to kiss her. but as he kisses Elizabeth she transforms into his dead mother. Victor’s dream foretells the eventual destruction of his wife and his balanced life. This dream also implies that Victor will bring about Elizabeth’s death as shown by the fact that Victor’s passionate kiss causes Elizabeth to turn into a dead body. So such scary dreams and visions are very common in gothic novels. 

Women characters in Gothic novels:

Mostly in gothic novels women characters get terrified and intimated by more dominant and formidable men. We can see a similar scenario in Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” when Shelley presents her female characters Elizabeth, Caroline and Justine. All these women characters surrender themselves to take care of others until they notice or not, of yielding their lives for them. Caroline sacrifices her life as an obedient mother. Elizabeth sacrifices her life as a faithful wife, undoubting Victor’s decision and serving to his wishes. Justine sacrifices her life as a loyal servant. This reveals that men were more powerful than women in Mary Shelley’s time. That is why female characters were portrayed as timid and frightened. 

Read More: John Keats as a romantic poet

Some other gothic elements in Shelley’s Frankenstein:

One of the most important aspects of gothic novels is that they have manifold layers of narration . In the beginning the story of the novel “Frankenstein” is narrated by Walton’s point of view. Then the viewpoint shifts towards Victor who expresses to Walton about his existence. When Frankenstein in his narration arrives at a point where he recounts his encounter with the monster, the viewpoint then shifts towards the monster who tells his side of the story. Where after the viewpoint again comes back to Frankenstein, who carries on his story and at the end of the novel the viewpoint comes back to Walton. 

Read More: A Tale of Two Cities as a historical novel

Gothic elements and Shelley’s Frankenstein: 

Although Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a perfect gothic novel , concurrently it questions some of the traditions of gothic literature. Generally, we do not know about the origin of supernatural elements such as ghosts in most of the gothic novels. But in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the reader knows very well who created that monster and why. We can perceive why that monster has been created and the destruction he causes is the consequence of an absence of vision on the part of his founding creator, Victor Frankenstein, not of mysterious power. The secret of the novel is not the monster’s origin, but his actions. 

In general, Gothic novels are based on events from the past, but Shelley’s Frankenstein is based on the time period when it was authored. 

Read More: Coleridge’s concept of imagination and fancy

Conclusion:

To conclude we can say that dark and gloomy settings, horror and terror that the monster creates, Victor’s scary dreams, and manifold layers of narration make “Frankenstein” a perfect gothic novel .

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Frankenstein as a Gothic novel

• by Guiding Literature
• June 27, 2022 June 27, 2022

Frankenstein or ‘The Modern Prometheus’ is regarded as the first true science fiction in English literature. Written by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein is the story of a scientist, who created a sapient creature through unnatural procedure. However, Frankenstein cannot be considered as the first Gothic novel. It is a mixture of Romance and Gothic elements, weaved together to give us a unique story never written before.

Gothic novels have existed since a long time in English literature. The first Gothic novel was ‘The Castle of Otranto’ by Horace Walpole. The word ‘Gothic’ originally referred to the Goths, an early Germanic tribe. the principle aim of such novels is to evoke a sensation of fear and horror among the readers. They create an environment of fear with the use of supernatural elements. Frankenstein, that fits into this category creates an environment of horror in the minds of the readers through the character of the monster. In fact, the sense of horror begins the moment Victor starts collecting body parts of other dead humans to create his creature. With the help of unnatural process, he joins these parts to give life to a completely new being. This experiment is so bizarre in the first place, that the readers can expect the upcoming terror. Shelley makes a reference to the idea of raising the dead, which is a controversial topic to discuss.

Gothic novels are set on the specific locations that create a sense of fear and panic among the readers. Spooky old castles, deserted buildings, that are far away from human civilization, are often chosen as the backdrop of gothic novels. Frankenstein is set in the Europe, specifically in the interiors of Switzerland and Germany, where many of Shelley’s readers have not been to. Also, the inclusion of the Arctic regions take us to a land that is far away from humans. These locations are away from busy cities where human activity can be found in every nook and corner. Instead, the isolated locations make it easy to highlight the fright of the monster. Victor’s laboratory is also another terrifying place, where lots of unnatural and gruesome experiments have been practiced. Creating a life by joining body parts of dead humans, Victor had literally made the dead rise up again. Just imagining Victor walking in the streets, looking up for dead bodies, collecting them and sewing them up together gives chills to the readers. Also, the rainy weather, surrounded by grave darkness adds up to the gothic element of the novel. The storms and wet weather symbolizes mystery and dread.

The creature’s face is so hideous that whoever meets him, runs out of fear. His ugly face, huge body and enormous strength, makes him appear as a beast, feeding on weak human beings. Even his own creator disowns him out of fear and disgust. Every other human, that he meets attacks him without any specific reason, other than him looking like a monster. It doesn’t matter if the creature is innocent by heart, everybody assumes him to be dreadful monster and treats him as an outcast in the society. His looks are enough to repel the people who see him.

In Gothic novels, the characters seem to have an interrelation between the mortal and the immortal world. Victor and the monster seem to share a connection between them. The monster appears wherever Victor goes, even in the North Pole. Such supernatural instincts serve as an important theme in the gothic fiction. Mary Shelley has done a commendable job while portraying the story, that could captivate the readers through sensations of fear and suspense.

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Gothic Elements in Frankenstein

This essay will examine the elements of Gothic literature in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” It will explore how Shelley incorporates Gothic motifs, such as the supernatural, the sublime, and the tragic hero, to create a sense of horror and suspense. The piece will analyze key Gothic elements in the novel, including its dark and eerie settings, the theme of forbidden knowledge, and the complex characterization of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. It will also discuss how these elements contribute to the novel’s exploration of larger themes, such as the nature of humanity and the dangers of unchecked ambition. You can also find more related free essay samples at PapersOwl about Frankenstein.

How it works

Mary Shelley lived and wrote her novel Frankenstein during the peak of the romantic era of literature in the early 1800’s. She shows this as her work reflects many of the key elements that are associated with romanticism. In Frankenstein, Shelley also utilizes many of the elements of gothic literature. Shelley uses many of the conventions aligned with romantic and gothic literature in Frankenstein’s setting, subject matter, characterization, and plot to portray her overall tone and mood in the novel.

The romantic setting used by Shelley helps characterize Victor Frankenstein and the Creature throughout the novel. One of aspects of romanticism that is very prevalent in the novel is the focus on nature. The observations and reactions Frankenstein and the Creature make on the nature around them reveal the state of their character at certain points in the novel. At one point, Victor says, the black sides of Jura, and the bright summit of Mont Blanc .Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake! Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid (p72), when he was describing the beauty of nature and his appreciation for it. At another point in the novel, it says that Victor took refuge in the most perfect solitude. [He] passed whole day on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and listening to the rippling waves, silent and listless (p159). Nature also plays a role in the novel to show how Victor Frankenstein becomes more despondent as he becomes less and less appreciative of the scenery around him. At one point, Victor says that, Although Clerval observed the scenery with an eye of feeling and delightI, a miserable wretch, [was] haunted by a curse that shut up every avenue of enjoyment (p164). From this quote the reader can understand that Victor isn’t doing as well because he no longer enjoys the nature that he once did. In a similar way, the Creature’s development is also revealed by nature through the course of the novel. It can be seen in the quote the pleasant sunshine, and the pure air of day, restored [the Creature] to some degree of tranquility (p144) that nature has as somewhat positive impact on him. The Creature’s condition degrades over time, however. Later, the Creature says, The labours I endured were no longer to be alleviated by the bright sun or gentle breezes of spring (149). Nature again is used to emphasize how demoralized the Creature has become. The Creature’s appreciation of nature is also a way for the reader to realize that the Creature still has some humanity and goodness in him. Shelley effectively uses the romantic element of nature to develop Victor and the Creature throughout the novel.

In Frankenstein, Shelley chose to use Gothic elements to build suspense. The best example of this is the night the Creature first awakened. Victor described that night when he said, It was on a dreary night of November that I behalf the accomplishment of my toilsIt was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out (p51). His gothic painting of the scene used to establish a dark and dreary mood, leading towards the Creature’s awakening. Another example of Shelley’s use of a gothic setting is the scene where Victor is returning to Geneva. The darkness and storm increased every minute, and the thunder burst with a terrific crash over [Victor’s] head (p73). This quote foreshadows Victor’s sighting of the Creature and sets up a horrific mood for the reader.

The motif of death is Gothic element that Shelley uses in Frankenstein as a way to scare the reader. Gothic literature focuses heavily on the subject of death. Frankenstein is no exception in this matter. There are plenty of deaths in the novel, specifically people who are close to Victor. Victor’s mother dies of scarlet fever, William is murdered by the monster, Justine gets executed, Henry is murdered by the monster, and Elizabeth is murdered by the monster. The murder of Elizabeth is described in horrific and grotesque detail. Victor says, Everywhere I turn I see the same figureher bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier (211). The descriptions of death create a darker mood that invokes a sense of fear and suspense for the reader.

One of the major elements of Romanticism is the emphasis on the expression of emotion. Shelley specifically crafted Frankenstein and the Creature in a way to emphasize the emotional turmoil they are in. The Creature’s way of acting becomes erratic and destructive when he is rejected by society. The Creature burns down a cottage and, the blast tore along like a mighty avalanche, and produced a kind of insanity in [his] spirit that burst all bounds of reason and reflection (146). Through the Creature’s emotion driven actions, Shelley shows how he has been pushed to his limit and that he cannot tolerate the feeling of rejection anymore. Victor also makes irrational decisions throughout the novel that are driven by his emotions. One such decision was his choice to pursue the Creature to the North Pole. He did this out of anger and the desire for revenge. The emotions, and the actions that result from the them, reveal a lot about Victor and the Creature.

The Gothic and Romantic elements that Mary Shelley worked into Frankenstein all serve a purpose in establishing character development and portraying the overall themes of the novel. Shelley effectively utilized the elements of these two seemingly opposite literary styles to masterfully craft the token piece of literature that is Frankenstein.

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Gothic Elements in Frankenstein. (2019, Aug 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/elements-of-gothic-literature-in-frankenstein-by-mary-shelley/

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Gothic Novel, Science Fiction

Gothic Novel

Frankenstein is a Gothic novel in that it employs mystery, secrecy, and unsettling psychology to tell the story of Victor Frankenstein’s doomed monster. The Gothic emerged as a literary genre in the 1750s, and is characterized by supernatural elements, mysterious and secretive events, settings in ancient and isolated locations, and psychological undercurrents often related to family dynamics and repressed sexuality. In Frankenstein , readers get only vague descriptions of the process Victor uses to construct the monster, and descriptions like “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil” amplify the horror by prompting the reader to actively imagine what Victor must have done. Much of the action takes place at nighttime, and in mysterious circumstances. The novel also hints that Victor’s strange behavior may be rooted in repression. While he claims to love Elizabeth, their relationship has incestuous tones since they grew up together as siblings. He also seems reluctant to marry her and is fixated instead on his friend Henry. His desire to create life outside of typical sexual reproduction might reflect some level of trauma or disgust with heterosexuality, or sexuality in general.

Read more about the Gothic genre in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights .

At the same time, Frankenstein challenges some of the conventions of Gothic literature. Unlike traditional Gothic supernatural elements such as ghosts or vampires, the monster’s origins are deliberate and not mysterious. We know exactly where he comes from, who created him, and why. There’s never any question about whether the monster actually exists. We know the monster was created on purpose and the havoc he wreaks is the result of a lack of foresight on the part of his creator, Victor Frankenstein, not of unknowable forces. The mystery of the book is not where the monster came from, but what he wants. Frankenstein is also set in approximately the same time period when it was written, whereas traditional Gothic fiction was almost always set in the past. While many Gothic novels imply that in the past people’s lack of knowledge and repressive customs led to horrifying situations, Frankenstein suggests too much knowledge and an emphasis on innovation might also lead to horror.

Science Fiction

In addition to the Gothic elements, Frankenstein inaugurates the genre of science fiction, and many critics cite the novel as one of the first examples of the science fiction novel. Science fiction as a genre speculates about possible applications for advances in science and technology. In science fiction novels, the rules governing normal life are transgressed in some way. For example, a popular convention in science fiction is life existing outside of Earth; for Shelley, the idea of humans being able to artificially create new life becomes possible within the space of the novel. In many science fiction novels, the fictional technologies and scientific developments can be read as an implicit criticism of contemporary society. By prompting her readers to think about an extreme example where someone recklessly pursues knowledge, Shelley sheds light on her own era, where a focus on inventing new things and optimizing technology was beginning to threaten established ways of life.

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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein : the birth of a gothic monster

Mary Shelley's ground-breaking novel Frankenstein was one of the first gothic explorations of artificial life, telling a terrible tale of doomed scientist Victor Frankenstein who gives life to a hulking, unnamed 'Creature'. Here, Dr Sorcha Ní Fhlainn considers Shelley's inspirations for her creation and shares the legacy of the much-adapted work

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January 2018 marked the bicentennial anniversary of Mary Shelley ’s novel Frankenstein in 1818. More than two hundred years since its publication, it is important to note the continuing importance Shelley’s novel has today, and the contributions it has made to gothic studies and science fiction studies across literature, as well as its subsequent adaptations for the stage, film and television in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Mary Shelley’s description of a figure galvanised with unnatural life, a stitched and hideous sapient medical creation, was inspired by a nightmare while on holiday with Percy Bysshe Shelley [whom she married later in 1816], Lord Byron and Dr John Polidori, at Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva in Switzerland during ‘the year without a summer’ of 1816. The dream sowed the seeds for what would become Frankenstein’s most memorable chapter, in which Victor Frankenstein beholds the monstrosity upon which he has conferred unnatural life.

The year of 1816 was born of significant gothic weather worldwide, due to plumes of volcanic ash which had erupted a year earlier from Mount Tambora, Indonesia, and had significantly cooled temperatures across the globe, adversely affecting food production and regular seasonal climates. This dark summer proved to be strangely fruitful for these burgeoning Romantics. Lord Byron’s suggestion of a ghost story competition to while away their Swiss holiday not only inspired Shelley’s novel Frankenstein , but also Polidori’s short prose The Vampyre (1819) which later became a source of inspiration for Bram Stoker’s seminal work, Dracula (1897).

• Vampires, zombies and Frankenstein: Gothic history in pictures

Shelley recalls in her introduction to the 1831 edition of Frankenstein that her nightmare was inspired by a late-night discussion between Bysshe Shelley and Byron about the then ‘fashionable’ scientific topic of galvanism. This was the study of electricity to stimulate muscle contraction and produce chemical reactions, which led to fantastical concepts of a liminal state between life and death as explored through the creation of Frankenstein’s tragic creature.

Further to this discussion, which would inspire her greatest contribution to gothic literature , her own loss of a prematurely born child in 1815 undoubtedly bore influence too, as Victor brings about an unnatural birth by infusing his own assembled ‘dead’ creation with unnatural life. Shelley’s own childhood may have also contributed to thematic fears and concerns evident in Frankenstein , particularly noted by critics as anxieties about motherhood and the precarious nature of birth, of which she was painfully aware: the untimely death of her own mother, Mary Wollstonecraft , eleven days after Shelley’s own birth was a keenly felt absence. Raised by her father, the philosopher William Godwin, and acutely aware of herself as the progeny of significant intellectuals, Shelley lacked confidence as an author in her own right, and developed her talents with Percy Bysshe Shelley’s encouragement. Shelley’s personal life was further shaped by many tragedies in her adult life – only one of her children with Bysshe Shelley would survive into adulthood, and she was widowed in her mid-20s following the tragic death of Bysshe Shelley in 1822.

More like this

5 things you probably didn’t know about Frankenstein and Mary Shelley

• The 1818 edition of the novel was published anonymously, and the preface written by Percy Bysshe Shelley was misinterpreted as his claim of authorship. The 1823 reprinted version bears Mary Shelley’s name as author.
• Presumption; or The Fate of Frankenstein, the first stage adaptation of Shelley’s novel, debuted at the Lyceum Theatre, London, in the autumn of 1823 to popular acclaim. From 1878, author Bram Stoker managed the theatre and would go on to write Dracula, the most adapted gothic monster in popular culture.
• While Frankenstein is Shelley’s most known work, she continued to write throughout her life, including another science fiction novel about fatal apocalyptic plague, The Last Man (1826), as well as essays and travelogues. 
• Frankenstein’s creature is the second most adapted monster to the screen, only to be outranked by Stoker’s Count Dracula. The most adapted human onscreen is Sherlock Holmes . 
• Mary Shelley kept Percy Bysshe Shelley’s calcified heart as a treasured keepsake following his cremation, until it was buried with their son Sir Percy Florence Shelley in 1889.

Adaptations of a seminal novel

For many, Frankenstein lives on as a seminal novel which achieved a significant afterlife on the stage and screen. While its earliest adaptation to the stage is recorded in 1823, titled Presumption; or The Fate of Frankenstein , the Edison studios [Thomas Edison’s film company] produced a short film based on the novel in 1910. The film showcased the creature’s duality with his creator, and foregrounded cinematic special effects, make-up and editing to illuminate the twin fates of Victor (played by Augustus Phillips) and his hideous double (played by Charles Stanton Ogle). Initially believed to be lost (as many early silent films perished through degraded film stock and poor storage practices), it was rediscovered in the mid-1970s and copied for preservation purposes; further restorations were conducted by the film society at the University of Geneva in 2016.

Frankenstein is one of the most adapted gothic stories for the screen (second only to Dracula), with significant versions adding distinct looks to the creature which, to this day, bears great significance in popular culture. Most iconic of all is Boris Karloff’s portrayal of the creature in James Whale’s classic 1931 version for Universal Studios. His emotional innocence and awkwardness are enhanced by make-up artist Jack Pierce’s distinctive make-up, including the bolts in his neck, green-tinged skin and lumbering plodding walk. Later, Hammer studios presented the creature (played by Christopher Lee) in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) as a physically disjointed specimen, a victim of Frankenstein’s madness sutured together to include the harvested ‘best parts’ of other people – the brain of a noted professor, the hands of an artist, grafted onto the body of a hanged criminal – which, once reanimated, are lost talents which cannot simply be reanimated or transferred.

More recent adaptations and modifications to the tale include Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982), which significantly draws upon Shelley’s theme of Promethean fire, life stolen from the gods and bestowed by an irresponsible creator. If anything, the ‘Tears in Rain’ speech made by the character Roy Batty (played by Rutger Hauer) at the climax of the film reveals the voice of a similar ‘othered’ creature such as Shelley’s creation. His capability to learn, to see and to feel are contrasted with the blind ambition and unfeeling nature of his creator, Tyrell (played by Joe Turkel).

• Listen | Fiona Sampson explores the remarkable life of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley

Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation to the screen in 1994 restores narrative elements frequently stripped away in filmic adaptation. This version includes the epistolary framing narrative through the diary of Captain Walton, showing the vogue in early 1990s Hollywood to return to the novel when creating new adaptations of classic gothic literature. Branagh, who plays Victor and directs this retelling, restores the humanity and physicality to the creature (played by Robert De Niro) while also explicitly emphasising their uncanny doubling; in a prolonged birth sequence in which the creature is galvanised in a vat of harvested amniotic fluid, Branagh’s film emphasises this creation as a fleshy physical being. More recently, Danny Boyle’s staging of Nick Dear’s stage adaptation explicitly marks the creature (the central character in this version) as his creator’s explicit double through the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in alternating roles as the creature and Victor in this sensational production.

Frankenstein endures as a warning of transgression, of human hubris and terrible ambition realised. It marks the first gothic exploration of artificial life, gives rise to the burgeoning science fiction genre, and remains a literary classic concerned with the liminality between life and death.

Dr Sorcha Ní Fhlainn is a senior lecturer in Film Studies and American Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University and reviews editor for Gothic Studies (Manchester University Press).

This ar ticle was first published by HistoryExtra in January 2018.

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Essay On Gothic Literature In Frankenstein

Eagleton’s idea by underscoring the concept that “Mary Shelley’s answer [in the novel Frankenstein] does not entail the restructuring of society, the elimination of the class system; it does entail a revolution of the human spirit and of the emotions which will issue in benevolent action towards one’s fellow human beings, and in so doing, creating a better society whilst alleviating present ills” (89). In this instance, Mary Shelley’s piece of gothic literature can be defined as alive and purposeful as it strives to promote action and change by the people. Developed through imagination and creativity, it carries political weight that contrasts the rational capitalism of the time and instead is aimed at change in support of the people. Literature of the past can be defined as imaginative, creative, and soul-stirring as can literature of the present. Using imagination and creativity, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has defined literature as transformative. In this seven-book series J.K Rowling imagined and creatively pieced together a fantasy world of muggles, wizards, tyrants, and heroes to symbolically share with readers problems plaguing modern society. Similar to Shelley’s work of the past, never before have readers in the modern era seen teenage and adult mania surrounding an 11-year-old wizard. Some will argue that J.K. Rowling’s young-adult series lacks depth or wants to twist young minds by using magic and evil, but through close examination it is evident that

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Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay

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• 4 Works Cited

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The Gothic Theme In Frankenstein Essay examples

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     The term Gothic refers to a genre that came about in the late eighteenth century. It can be a type of story, clothing, or music nowadays. In this paper it will refer to a style of literature. A very good example of this type of literature is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the whole novel, which is one of the basic necessities of the Gothic. This theme of the Gothic has different characteristics that all fit into the story of Victor Frankenstein and his monster and make this one of the first horror stories every told.

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My definition of romanticism is when nature played a huge part to all the great artists and writers of the time. The Period of romanticism took place during the 1800s when individuals put emotion into their work and cared about education, literature, and natural history. The true romantics wanted to escape the industrial age and move away from urbanization and population in general. The romantic revolution paved the way for many writers and artists because people felt free and it gave inspiration for original ideas. Some of the great novelists surfaced during the Romanic age, one of which was marry shelly who wrote Frankenstein a masterpiece during its time.

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when he felt lonely and when he was hungry there was no one to guide

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It’s strange trying to think about these original film properties—Frankenstein and Dracula, respectively—as serious pictures, void of camp and cheese. However, most of this comes from age. It’s interesting then, watching the Hammond-era films, and trying to view them as anything remotely serious. They aren’t. However, they do, at times, manage to disguise themselves as such. In reality, these movies are no Rosemary’s Baby, but rather the birth of a new brand of gothic horror—the gore filled, B-movie, spin-off franchise films; a weird series of twisted exploitation reboots, upping the ante and upping the ridiculous names. The two things that immediately came to mind when watching these films is the obvious influence they had on the work of Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, and Kate Bush’s song “Hammer Horror” — I admire both artists greatly, so I went in the Hammerverse with my eyes wide open.

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41 Quotes From Frankenstein For Your Gothic Literature Studies

Important Quotes From ‘Frankenstein’

Best quotes from 'frankenstein', the best quotes about mary shelley's book.

'Frankenstein' is an iconic novel written by Mary Shelley.

The book is about a young scientist, Victor, who by scientific experiment creates life. 'Frankenstein' is a metaphor for many things to many people.

Most commonly the creature is understood as a metaphor that symbolizes the blank slate that each human is born as, and the influence that our experiences have on who we become. Victor is presented as a man playing God and failing at it in the book.

While Victor failed miserably at his experiment and couldn't tolerate his own creation in the end, it raises the question for readers as to whether the creature was the monster or whether Victor himself was.

If you liked our quotes from 'Frankenstein' you can also check out these 'Frankenstein' monster quotes and Victor Frankenstein quotes .  

Here we have the best quotes from 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley , including quotes from 'Frankenstein' about the monster being lonely, quotes about why Frankenstein created the monster, quotes from 'Frankenstein' when the monster kills Elizabeth, and much more.

1. "I leave you, and in you the last of humankind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein!"

- Robert Walton, chapter 24.

2. "Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source."

- Narrator, chapter four, explains why Frankenstein created the monster.

3. "I collected bones from charnel houses; and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame."

- Narrator, chapter four.

4. "Solitude was my only consolation - deep, dark, deathlike solitude."

- Narrator, chapter nine.

5. "'Man,' I cried, 'how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say.'"

- Narrator, chapter 23.

6. "The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine."

- Narrator, chapter two.

7. "To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death."

8. "Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful."

- The Creature, chapter 20.

9. "The murderous mark of the fiend’s grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips."

- Narrator, chapter 23, spoken when the monster kills Elizabeth.

10. "Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature."

- Robert Walton, letter four.

11. "I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight."

- Robert Walton, letter one.

12. "Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye."

13. "If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear."

- The Creature, chapter 17.

14. "There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand."

- Robert Walton, letter two.

15. "Farewell, sweet lady, dearest Elizabeth, my beloved and only friend; may heaven, in its bounty, bless and preserve you; may this be the last misfortune that you will ever suffer!"

- Elizabeth, chapter eight.

16. "Learn from my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own."

- Victor Frankenstein, chapter 24.

17. "So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein - more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation."

- Narrator, chapter three.

18. "Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it."

- The Creature, chapter 10.

19. "I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures, and am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship."

20. "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

21. "Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance."

- The Creature, chapter 15,  The Creature's famous words to Victor.

Here are the best quotes from the incredible book by Mary Shelley.

22. "Often, when all was dry, the heavens cloudless, and I was parched by thirst, a slight cloud would bedim the sky, shed the few drops that revived me, and vanish."

- Narrator, chapter 24.

23. "Liberty, however, had been a useless gift to me, had I not, as I awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge."

24. "If for one instant I had thought what might be the hellish intention of my fiendish adversary, I would rather have banished myself forever from my native country."

- Narrator, chapter 22.

25. "Nothing could be more complete than the alteration that had taken place in my feelings since the night of the appearance of the daemon."

- Narrator, chapter 20.

26. "But he found that a traveller's life is one that includes much pain amidst its enjoyments."

- Narrator, chapter 19.

27. "A change indeed had taken place in me; my health, which had hitherto declined, was now much restored; and my spirits, when unchecked by the memory of my unhappy promise, rose proportionably."

- Narrator, chapter 18.

28. "Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness."

- Narrator, chapter 17.

29. "Oh, earth! How often did I imprecate curses on the cause of my being! The mildness of my nature had fled, and all within me was turned to gall and bitterness."

- Narrator, chapter 16.

30. "I turned with more attention towards the cottagers... They loved and sympathized with one another; and their joys, depending on each other, were not interrupted by the casualties that took place around them."

- Narrator, chapter 15.

31. "... I learned that there was but one means to overcome the sensation of pain, and that was death."

- Narrator, chapter 13.

32. "As the sun became warmer and the light of day longer, the snow vanished, and I beheld the bare trees and the black earth."

- Narrator, chapter 12.

33. "Thus I relieve thee, my creator... thus I take from thee a sight which you abhor. Still thou canst listen to me and grant me thy compassion."

34. "The immense mountains and precipices that overhung me on every side, the sound of the river raging among the rocks, and the dashing of the waterfalls around spoke of a power mighty as Omnipotence."

- Narrator, chapter Nine.

35. "From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing!"

- Narrator, chapter Eight.

36. "Get well - and return to us. You will find a happy, cheerful home and friends who love you dearly."

- Elizabeth, chapter Sic.

This novel written by Mary Shelley is an iconic one in literature. Here are some 'Frankenstein' quotes from Mary Shelley herself and other authors.

37. "I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out; and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion."

- Mary Shelley.

38. "My imagination, unbidden, possessed and guided me, gifting the successive images that arose in my mind with a vividness far beyond the usual bound of reverie."

39. "He never wanted to hurt anyone; he merely groped his torturous way through a second life trying to defend himself, trying to come to terms with those who sought to destroy him."

- Stan Lee.

40. "I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Frankenstein monster. No one could ever convince me that he was the bad guy."

41. "Its classical unity is broken only by the author's uncertainty as to where the fatal flaw lies - is it in Victor's hubris or in his failure to take responsibility for his creation after endowing it with the life-spark?"

- Stephen King.

At Kidadl , we have created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked these 'Frankenstein' quotes, then why not take a look at quotes from 'Beowulf' and quotes from 'Gone With The Wind' too?

main image credit: Patricia Marroquin / Shutterstock.com

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Frankenstein: Gothic Literature Analytical Essay

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Table of Contents

Introduction

The supernatural, victor frankenstein, the modern prometheus.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a cautionary tale which follows an inquisitive scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who becomes fascinated by the prospect of reanimating the inanimate and seeks to fabricate artificial life. He pieces together a man-like creature, 8 feet tall, whose ghastly appearance labels it an abomination to all mankind. Deemed loathsome by its creator, the creature develops a thirst for vengeance and proceeds to slaughter everyone Victor holds dear.

Mary Shelley was a 19th century novelist and short story writer most famous for her gothic Novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which she wrote when she was only 19 years old. It is frequently referred to as the very first work of science fiction and one of the greatest horror novels ever. The classic tale was written 200 years ago on a rainy afternoon in 1817 in Geneva, where Mary Shelley was staying with her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley and their friend Lord Byron. The poet Lord Byron challenged each of his friends to write gruelling horror stories, hence Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was born.

Frankenstein was among the first gothic novels. It was written during the spread of the industrial revolution throughout Europe, in a time of discovery and exploration in the fields of science, religion, and industry. The features of gothic literature which include monsters, death and gloomy settings, provided writers ways to explore and question the unknown.

Mary Shelley uses the features of gothic literature to challenge the views of society, through the story of Frankenstein. Dangerous knowledge is something which Mary Shelley explores. The supernatural is central aspect prevalent within the novel. The character of Victor Frankenstein is one that delves into the realities of dangerous knowledge. The subtitle The Modern Prometheus is a clue to story’s message opposing dangerous Knowledge.

Mary Shelley uses the supernatural to question the power of science and the unforeseen risks of knowledge and technological advancements. She employs the supernatural elements of restoring life to the deceased and the research into an unexplored territory of science. Frankenstein succeeds “in discovering the cause of generation and life” and claims to be able to animate matter with “a spark of being”.

The monster’s creation occurs in an unnatural way, under mysterious circumstances, and can therefore only be supernatural. The monsters physical power exceeds that of human being and it is virtually unaffected by harsh weather conditions, which renders it superhuman. An instance of the monster being portrayed as a supernatural creature is in the words of Victor Frankenstein himself. “I suddenly beheld the figure of a man advancing towards me with superhuman speed.”

The monster’s super human capabilities are further evident after he is shot by a rustic after saving a girl from drowning. Even when he is severely injured, he continues to live. “After some time, my wound healed, and I continued my journey.” The monster seems to be immune to diseases and infections, when a human would surely perish without medical assistance. Mary Shelley uses the supernatural to symbolise the possible outcomes of scientific advancements and their inevitable risks.

Victor Frankenstein is an essential character strategically utilised by the author, Mary Shelley, as a representation of human nature and curiosity. He is portrayed as the hero of the story, but it is evident at times that he possesses the qualities of a true villain. Frankenstein’s intentions were not sinister in nature, however the results of his success at artificial life was destructive and undesirable. Frankenstein dreams of transforming society and bringing himself glory through scientific achievements. Yet his ambitions make him flawed.

Frankenstein remarks after completing his creation: “But now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” He felt fair and honourable in his pursuit, but only after the monster’s creation, did Frankenstein realise what horrors he had welcomed. Like scientists strive for great breakthroughs and fail to consider the repercussions of their accomplishments, clouded by idealistic views.

Frankenstein fails to consider the consequences of his actions. He turns himself into a creator by bringing his monster to life, which highlights his failure when he is completely incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities that a creator has to its creation. Through the stimulating character of Victor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley confronts her society on the uncertainty of scientific advancements.

Mary Shelley alludes to the story’s inspiration through the title. The full title of Frankenstein is ‘Frankenstein; or, The modern Prometheus. “The Modern Prometheus” refers to the Greek myth of the Titan who formed humans from clay and stole them fire from the heavens, overstepping his boundaries and being severely punished.

Mary Shelley has drawn parallels between the ancient myth of Prometheus and Frankenstein which are exposed throughout the narrative. Like Prometheus who created humanity and gave them fire ignoring the dangers. Frankenstein, not fully aware of the consequences of his actions; indirectly gifts the monster to humanity by bringing it to life.

For releasing forbidden knowledge into the realm of humans, Prometheus was punished by having his liver devoured daily by an eagle. This is mirrored in Frankenstein’s own never ending torture; the deaths of his family and friends. The monster himself questions Frankenstein’s true motives “God, in pity, made man after his own image, but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance.” What differs Frankenstein from Prometheus is that he abandoned his creation and rejected it. Prometheus aids humanity after creating humankind in his image. Mary Shelley’s comparison of Frankenstein and Prometheus serves to represent the dangers of knowledge and its dire consequences.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a timeless classic which is just as relevant today as it was 200 years ago. The author Mary Shelley expressed her ideas through the context of a gothic novel; Frankenstein. She used supernatural elements, the Character of Victor Frankenstein and the subtitle of the Modern Prometheus to warn society on the risks of rampant ambition and uncontrolled curiosity, disregarding the laws of nature.

Shelley expressed that these characteristics ultimately lead to the destruction of oneself and the demise of those you love. Mary Shelly used the fictional tale of Frankenstein to caution her society against embarking on the quest for dangerous knowledge and exploring possible undesirable outcomes. Mary Shelley warns, that like Victor Frankenstein, ambitious scientists may become so preoccupied with whether they could, they won’t stop to think if they should.

• Frankenstein Study Guide – Shmoop
• Frankenstein Study Guide – GradeSaver
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: A Filmed Classic for Teaching Romanticism and The Gothic Tradition – Project MUSE
• The Ambiguous Heritage of Frankenstein – The University of Pennsylvania

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Frankenstein: Gothic Literature Analytical Essay. (2020, Sep 10). Retrieved from https://samploon.com/frankenstein-gothic-literature/

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