Before I began examining the merits of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I would like to introduce this review as my entry in Pestyside’s 2nd Annual Read Banned Books and Celebrate�Banned Books Write-Off . At their most basic, books are vessels to transfer thoughts and ideas from an author to a reader. They are often interpreted in different fashions by different readers, and can inspire and educate as well as entertain. Who as a child has not been transported away to some magical far away land in the pages of a classic novel? And the journey need not end with childhood; reading is an adventure that can stay with us all the days of our lives.
There are some, unfortunately, who cannot stomach the notion of free thought and speech. They fear ideas that differ from their own, and seek to suppress intellectual growth. The Nazis banned books. The Soviet dictators banned books. The Chinese ban books to this day. And right here in Georgia, a Gwinnett County woman has tried for years to ban the Harry Potter books from schools on religious grounds, claiming they promote witchcraft. So far, the only spell I have seen old Harry cast over kids is a motivation for them to read, which has become almost a lost art in today’s world of video games, computers, DVDs, and cell phones.
If you don’t want your kids to read certain books, that’s your affair. But don’t tell me what my kids should and should not read.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
It’s unlikely that Mary Shelley could ever have known when she first put paper to pen back in 1818 how very much a part of popular culture her novel Frankenstein would become. In various incarnations, it has become ingrained into American pop culture. Ironically, however, Frankenstein is much better known for the 1931 classic film starring Boris Karloff as the monster. That film is based somewhat loosely on Shelley’s novel.
The story follows the life of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist who one day, while observing the remains of a tree struck by lightning, theorizes that it might be possible to use that very same energy to create life. And this is exactly what he does, assembling a a “man” from body parts and bones of the dead he collects in the course of his ghastly travails.
When, however, his creation attains life, he is horrified by it, and it flees his presence forthwith. The creature, possessed of surprising intelligence, tries to make his way in the world. He covertly assists a small family and attempts to learn of the world from them, but when he reveals himself, they are revolted by his hideous forma and drive him away.
And it is then that created turns upon creator. As the monster begins to murder those around Victor, Dr, Frankenstein wonders what he has wrought upon the Earth. The monster, however, offers him a way out: create for him a mate, and he will end his rampage of destruction. But can Victor Frankenstein take his creation at his word and risk turning another murdering monstrosity loose upon humanity?
At its most basic, Frankenstein is a warning-a warning about the dangers of science run amok, of man’s meddling with things with which he has insufficient knowledge. Shelley perceived that there might be dangers and consequences to such, a lesson much more apt in the 21st century age of nuclear weapons, biotechnology, and cloning than the 19th. Indeed, the alternate title, “The Modern Prometheus” is a bit of foreshadowing of the author’s intent. As Prometheus gave man the gift of fire and was cast upon a rock for all eternity as punishment, so Dr. Frankenstein learns the consequences of playing God.
Frankenstein’s monster is much different from the one Boris Karloff depicted in 1931. Shelley’s monster is articulate, intelligent, and crafty. He not only learns to read and speak, but is capable of hatching a well thought-out plot against his creator. Indeed, we even feel a bit of sympathy from him despite his murderous acts. After all, it was the actions of mankind that taught the creature to kill.
Ultimately, he seeks approval from his creator, and an understanding of that around him. In truth, is that not what all of us want? Instead, the monster is rejected based upon his outward appearance, despite the good he does and is capable of. Initially, he helps the family he befriends, thereby proving there is good in him.
The relationship between the monster and Dr. Frankenstein is remarkably similar to the relationship between man and God, or at least man’s perception of God, in our own world. Do we not struggle against our own creator with acts of rebellion and transgressions against morality? Yet religions state God is forgiving, something that Victor Frankenstein is not. And to a degree, mankind is cast into the world to survive on our won, abandoned by our creator, just as the monster was.
Shelley tells her tale in epistolary fashion through a series of correspondences. Eventually, these contain the accounts of Victor Frankenstein of the tragic events of his life. The prose is elegant, but sometimes lengthy, and can at times bog down in the just over 200 pages alloted. But in the end, the pieces fit together remarkably well.
Frankenstein is a classic novel that offers its readers much. More morality play than true horror story, it’s also more a thoughtful read than an amusing one. Read it for the message, read it for the prose, read it to see the inspiration for the Frankenstein legend.
And read it just because someone said you can’t.
Also of note:
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Recommended:
