Mary Shelley: Frankenstein

Hi

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus! Only 170 pages and 18 pages introduction.
I got it in the Wordsworth version even though I love the Penguin English Classics more, but they don’t publish Shelley’s other work.
I read the 1831 revisited version.

“Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.”

The novel is very expressive. Both Frankenstein himself and mainly the monster have the ability to explain their feelings and the events in a way that makes us feel for them. Especially the monster generates a feeling of empathy when he recounts his life since birth. It’s amazing how Shelley does this.
The moment Victor refuses to take responsibility for his creation is the moment I was repulsed by him. In a way, every death by the hands of the monster is in essence because of Victor and his lack of guidance and support.
The story itself is (today) rather weak. But you cannot judge it in our society as a new novel. You have to bear the zeitgeist in mind.
In the end, we’re left wondering what real ‘evil’ is and the many faces it has.

Did you have a nice weekend?
Helena