Common things about Gothic Literature.

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Common things about Gothic Literature

“Frankenstein” fulfils the description of a novel of the Gothic genre in many ways, and the influence of this highly original piece of gothic literature on our modern day culture cannot be questioned. The statement: ‘Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is widely regarded not only as a fine example of Gothic Literature but also as a seminal text in its fictional exploration of the possibilities of scientific endeavour and the consequences this has for our humanity,’ is a statement that can be proved true on in many respects.

An element common to gothic novels is that the story is set in the context of some sort of social upheaval. Frankenstein was written in the early 19th Century – a time when the industrial revolution was beginning in Britain. The advent of machinery, that beginning to be widely used, created a lot of interest in machines which eventually led to the investigation of science and scientific methods. One of the underlying themes throughout the novel of Frankenstein is the pursuit of knowledge – in Victor Frankenstein’s case, the pursuit of   the ‘physical secrets of the world.’ Frankenstein later states that ‘natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate,’ which again emphasises his “predilection for that science.” This theme may reflect Britain’s growing inclination to encourage scientific pursuits, spurred on by the industrial revolution.

It may be said that Frankenstein is actually one of the earliest examples of science fiction – as it deals with the horrible consequences of an experiment gone wrong. However, many critics have argued that science at the time was not developed enough for this to warrant such categorisation, and that the novel’s relation with science is just as a means to express the warning that the pursuit of knowledge may not always be beneficial, and that some things are better left undiscovered. However, the influence this novel has had on the science fiction genre may in fact be quite profound. While the novel may not be able to match modern day science fiction stories for realism, the idea of bringing something dead to life, only to experience ruin can be seen in Crichton’s Jurassic Park, and the creation of a monstrosity may even have left its impact on the modern day by influencing “The Hulk.”

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Secrecy is an important element in science fiction, whether it be to protect what is being researched or to escape scrutiny for performing immoral acts in the name of science. “Frankenstein” combines the latter with the Gothic element of horror and terror to exemplify the immorality of what Victor Frankenstein does. The many references to his undertaking as “The secret I was acquainted with” and the “one secret I alone possessed” seem to emphasise that Frankenstein is shrouding himself in secrecy as he is aware that he is transgressing.

Another important element of the science-fiction genre is that ...

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