'Frankenstein is full of ideas and warnings which are relevant to a modern audience.' -Discuss the enduring appeal of the novel.
PRE-1914 PROSE ENGLISH COURSEWORK
FRANKENSTEIN
'Frankenstein is full of ideas and warnings which are relevant to a modern audience.'
-Discuss the enduring appeal of the novel.
Introduction:
Despite being over a century old, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has continued to hold public interest for nearly two hundred years. The novel was published 1818 and is one of the most acclaimed gothic stories in the history of literature. It has remained a firm favourite with audiences of the past and present, and has been adapted and re-told many times through various different kinds of media, for example; radio programmes, theatre, art, children's comic books and cartoons, television and film versions.
Shelley, daughter of one of the first feminist thinkers of the age, Mary Wollstonecraft, came from a well educated background, of the artistic and intellectual elite of the time. However, she grew up in most unusual circumstances; her parents never married (which was frowned upon) and she herself went on to have children (out of wedlock) with the famous English poet Percy Shelley.
The idea for Frankenstein developed when Lord Byron, Shelley, Mary came together in the summer of 1816 in Geneva. On a fateful day, they were confined indoors due to rain. Byron came up with the idea that each of them should write a ghost story to pass time. It is thought she took many ideas from Percy Shelley's 'Prometheus Unbound' and most of Frankenstein became based on the limitations of being a human being.
Mary Shelley alone succeeded in creating a story that would later become one of the most famous of all time. In the preface to Frankenstein, Mary Shelley states that the book was conceived in a dream in which she saw a "pale student of unhallowed arts putting together the hideous phantasm of a man." She writes, "the idea so possessed my mind that a thrill of fear ran through me, and I wished to exchange the ghastly image of my fancy for the 'realities around'." She realized that what terrified her would also terrify others, and so she formulated her story.
Frankenstein has prevailed for many different reasons including some of the following;
* It is interesting and has been very well written.
* It is a provocative gothic novel with an appeal of mystery.
* It raises all sorts of (moral) issues throughout- some that have been explored in the text are still relevant to today's world (prejudice, parenting, morality, and scientific advances.)
There is no doubt that many factors influenced and inspired Shelley to write Frankenstein; we know that she had learned about various philosophical and scientific doctrines. Galvanism (the re-animating of a corpse) was a popular topic of discussion and interest at her time, and it seems this was an important influence for Frankenstein. However, her personal experiences seem to have also influenced her; her mother died just ten days after Mary had been born, and her half-sister committed later committed suicide. Shortly after this Percy Shelley's wife, Harriet also committed suicide. An effort was made to resuscitate her, although she died later. The next year she had a premature baby girl, Clara, who died at four weeks old- she was haunted by a recurring dream about her dead baby, where Clara was revived and brought back from the dead.
The popularity and enduring appeal of the novel
There are many reasons as to why Frankenstein remains so popular today. The way in which it has been written is different to any novel ever written, and the mysterious gothic style in which it has been written only adds to it's enduring appeal.
The novel opens in epistolary form- and does not involve Frankenstein himself at all to begin with. This unusual opening is surprising for us as readers as it is not what we expect of Frankenstein as a gothic novel. This unexpected opening 'grabs' us, drawing us into the story itself, whilst setting the scene.
The reader is introduced after all the main events have taken place, where Victor is pursuing the monster to the North Pole in search of retribution for the murders of his loved ones at the hands of the monster. (The fact that all the main events have taken place becomes clear to the reader later, when Victor is rescued by Captain Walton and is telling his story.)
Frankenstein begins being told in letters between an explorer named Captain R. Walton, corresponding to his sister Margaret Saville whilst on a voyage of discovery in the North Pole. (The story opens with the narrative catching up to the time of Walton's fourth letter to his sister) Walton tells the remainder of his story in another series of letters to his sister. Although we can tell from the letters to begin with that Captain Walton is not involved, it later becomes clear to the reader that he, Victor and the monster are in the same area, and that their paths will no doubt cross sooner or later, which builds tension and adds excitement to the story.
The content of Chapter 4 builds on the excitement already there, thrilling the reader with gothic account-like descriptions from Victor himself about how obsession was born and grew to almost soul-consuming proportions.
The chapter opens with Victor talking of his fascination with the structure of the human form, and life in particular. He turns his attention to life in particular and questions whether it is true that only God can bring life into the world
...'Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?'
Intrigued, Victor studies the concept of life and death, ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
The content of Chapter 4 builds on the excitement already there, thrilling the reader with gothic account-like descriptions from Victor himself about how obsession was born and grew to almost soul-consuming proportions.
The chapter opens with Victor talking of his fascination with the structure of the human form, and life in particular. He turns his attention to life in particular and questions whether it is true that only God can bring life into the world
...'Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?'
Intrigued, Victor studies the concept of life and death, considering the dividing line between the two and studying the process of decay after death. It is at this point in the chapter that Shelley introduces the thrilling gothic element: there is mention of 'superstition,' 'spirits,' 'darkness,' 'graveyards,' 'vaults,' 'charnel houses,' using words like 'degraded and wasted,' to contrast with 'beauty and strength.' When he talks about decay, the gothic factor is emphasised even more so by his graphic descriptions of his findings when he talks about how bodies become '..food for the worm..' and how '...the worm inherited the wonders of the eye and brain..' both of these descriptions conjure up uncomfortable images in the mind of the reader, reflecting on the fact that what Victor would later set out to do would be dangerous and unnatural.
Then, in the middle of the chapter Victor has the idea, and quickly becomes consumed by it and is fixated on every aspect of it. Whilst considering the change from life to death, and the possibility of death to life
'...a sudden light broke in upon me....I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect which it illustrated...'
Despite this breakthrough, Victor does not give details of the idea itself, which adds to the mystery and excitement that has already been built for the reader in this chapter. He goes on from this to busy himself with his project, and it becomes evident to the reader how it quickly takes over- Victor himself observes how it changes him, both physically and mentally; he becomes ill, neglecting his health for his studies, and by the end of it is a paranoid wreck. He also begins to see himself that what he is doing is wrong, but he carries on.
'...Often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion.'
The opening of chapter 5, the climax of the story where the monster is brought to life, is a clear example of the use of the literary device of pathetic fallacy, where, in this case, the weather matches the emotion of the circumstance. There are also several more examples of this throughout the chapter.
'It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils..'
'Morning, miserable and wet, at length dawned,'
'...although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky..'
The 'moment of creation' is the most detailed of all, and excites the reader with the rich descriptive content. It also gives the reader a chance to compare their idea of what the monster looks like (having been influenced by film versions, comic versions or other forms of media) to how the monster is set out in the book. The description given by the book is as follows:
'His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.'
In comparison to modern literature, there is a lot of description within this novel, the above quote is an example of this. To a modern audience, the fact that there is lots of detail makes the story seem slow moving, yet it provides a good build up right up until the end. Also, at Mary Shelley's time, when the book was published, reading was an engaging form of entertainment, so the vast array of detail would have been enjoyed and appreciated a lot more and would have enhanced the experience for readers of the time.
The story is structured well throughout, and the narrative structure, in particular from the different characters (Captain Walton, Frankenstein, the monster), is unexpected and adds to the tension, as well as allowing the reader to see the story from all points of view, and to enable the reader to empathise with the monster in his situation where he would otherwise be treated as the villain.
Merely the fact that Frankenstein has been adapted many times into films, long detailed descriptive books, plays, radio, comic books, cartoons and the like is evidence that we, today, are still interested in it. All of the things I have mentioned beforehand all work together to continue to draw people to the book.
Interfering with nature
One of the main 'lessons' within the story itself is undoubtedly to respect God as the supreme creator- there are lots of examples in the text that warn against interfering with nature;
Victor himself warns Captain Walton, a young ambitious explorer who has set foot into the unknown (an area of the north pole, which, at that time had remained undiscovered)
'You may easily perceive, Captain Walton that I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes....You seek knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been...when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am...'
Also when telling his story to Capt. Walton he constantly reflects on what has happened, thinking about the consequences of his actions, and the consequences and implications that have resulted from his taking science too far.
'Learn from me....at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.'
Whilst telling his story to Capt. Walton, Victor talks of how his excitement and exhilaration at the prospect of reanimating the dead took over, and how he viewed himself as almost God-like:
'A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.'
Shelley plays around with the idea that Victor is 'playing God' in the title; 'Frankenstein- A modern Prometheus,' referring to the mythological Greek tale of Prometheus, son of Zeus, whose job it was to create life. Prometheus felt sorry for the primitive mortals on the earth, so he stole fire from Zeus to give to them. As a consequence he was punished by Zeus, who had him shackled to the side of a mountain. Each day, Prometheus would be tormented by Zeus' eagle as it tore at his immortal flesh and tried to devour his liver. Each night the torn flesh would mend so the eagle could begin anew at the first touch of dawn.
This myth relates to Frankenstein, although loosely, it carries the same warning that Frankenstein also carries: if you interfere with the path of nature, bad things will happen to you. Whilst he is telling his story, Victor tells us that he had his doubts beforehand, however his ambition and thirst for knowledge quickly took over.
'..I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself...but my imagination was too much exalted...to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and as wonderful as man.'
In Chapter 4, Victor toys with the idea that he is a 'creator' and ponders the idea that the monster should view him as his father, and he his son;
'No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.'
Victor becomes excited at the prospect of this and it drives him on, yet he does not pause to think about the possibility that things will go horribly wrong, as we know they do later on in the story.
Nevertheless, Victor prepares himself to 'reanimate' his creation, but he panics when he has brought it to life, and, realising how repulsive it is, flees in terror, abandoning his creation, along with the idea that he could have had a meaningful father-son relationship with it.
One could argue that the monster, despite having carried out the murders of Justine, William and Elizabeth later on in the story, is not at fault. Had Frankenstein accepted his creation from the very beginning, events might have been different, therefore, Frankenstein, although indirectly, is to blame for the evil deeds the monster has carried out. The monster does not come into the world as an evil being- it is full of love and kindness for mankind, yet is eventually turned against humans, who judge him by his appearance rather than his character. They taunt him, hurt him and reject him in the same way that Victor had. Therefore it is not surprising that, having been left alone, he acts on his instincts and reacts in the way he does.
The main idea within the context of Frankenstein relates to modern day science in many ways:
Science and technology are progressing at an astonishing rate. Many ethical and moral issues are frequently being brought up concerning these developments. The current controversy surrounding the cloning debate is one such example, as is the first successful 'face transplant' that has recently taken place -this scientific reality is very similar to Dr. Frankenstein's frightening discovery that Mary Shelly imagined 200 years ago.
The tale of Frankenstein has and will continue to be a fixture on the minds of scientists and the general public alike when exploring the possibilities science has to offer. The story still has relevance simply because the ideas behind it are an accurate foreshadowing of both scientific advancement and the fear and concerns surrounding these issues.
Prejudice
Prejudice, (and the importance of appearance and acceptance) is one of the main themes explored in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In today's society, and also in the society of Frankenstein, people judge one often solely on their looks. Social prejudice is often based on looks, whether it be the colour of someone's skin, the clothes that a person wears, the facial features that one has etc. People can make snap judgments based on these and this can affect the way the judged person is treated, as is the case of the monster in the story.
In Frankenstein the society of that time is much like our own today. It is an appearance based society, and this is brought to the forefront by the extreme ugliness of Victor Frankenstein's monster to a common human being.
The monster is judged at many interval throughout the story. In the very beginning, Victor is repulsed at what he has created, and flees from the scene. Shortly after this, whilst the monster is foraging for food on the outskirts of the city, he is driven out by angry villagers throwing rocks at him and threatening him. After this, he meets an innocent young girl, who, free from the prejudices of the adult world, does not judge him. Instead, she takes him inside her home to her grandfather, who, being blind, cannot see or judge the monster. The monster is touched by this and his faith in humans is restored when the rest of the family return and drive him away. This is a crushing blow to the monsters emotions as he realises that he is alone, and that nobody loves him.
The monster seemingly 'turns evil' after coming into the world full of love and kindness. This is because, much like a child neglected and abandoned in modern society, thee monster was rejected and abandoned by his parent, and, having no true role model to aspire to, is forced to face the cruel world alone, not having been taught right from wrong. Although we see that he begins to learn these basic principles when he cuts wood for the family in return for the food he takes, we see later on with the murders he commits that his tragic flaw is his anger.
The monster, because of his desperation to be loved and escape his loneliness goes looking for Victor. Although his efforts are in vain, as Victor, full of hate for the creature, refuses to acknowledge the monster as his son, rejecting him once more.
Shelley creates pity for the monster in Chapter 11, when the narrative changes to the monster's point of view, so that we are able to empathise with him. After a few lines it becomes obvious that this "monster" isn't the cold hearted heathen Victor has portrayed. In fact, Frankenstein's creation is very human-like: he has feelings, desires and even his own distinct personality. As the reader, we develop a genuine sense of pity, not loathing, for the beast once he relates his difficult situation to the reader.
The monster begins his story by recalling his earliest memories and how he came to be. The monster's beginnings are vague, as are the memories of most adults when they recall their childhood. He learns about his bodily sensations and the strange world around him.
Bad parenting
Although Frankenstein contains many warnings, it is undoubtedly a cautionary tale of bad parenting, and the consequences of this for the individuals concerned.
It is not the monster's fault that he was abandoned by Frankenstein from the beginning. In doing this, Victor appears to be cruel, selfish and unfair. This is highlighted when, having created the creature, on seeing the contrast between his dream and the reality of the, ""..miserable monster" he flees from his apartment, terrified at what he has done.
It is not until the desperate and unhappy creature has already murdered his young brother, William, and tells him his story, begging for a mate, that Frankenstein briefly feels the slightest responsibility for him. It is at this point in the novel that he thinks to himself,
'...and did I not as his maker, owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow?'
The creature's 'childhood' is condensed into a matter of months. His first experience of Victor, his parent and maker is one of rejection, and this sets the pattern for his life.
We are told that, on being 'born', the creature made his way to Frankenstein's bedside,
'...his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me...'
In all probability, the creature was reaching out, as a small child does to their mother, but his ugly appearance only frightened Victor into running away.
He is first rejected by his parent/creator on first seeing him, an this is followed by rejection and prejudice by everyone else he meets, be it the villagers who stone him, the man who shoots him after he has saved the little girl's life, the DeLacey's who beat him and then disappear overnight or William, who even though he is a child, shows the very same prejudice because of the creature's appearance. No matter how kind he is, or how educated and civilised he becomes, the result is always the same.
The monster never manages to interact positively with others or find friendship, and we can see his self esteem sink lower and lower, the more he is rejected, and becomes lonelier and more alienated from society. It is at this that eventually changes him from a kind, affectionate, and reasonable being, to a bitter murderer.
In Chapter 10, both the monster and Victor come face to face for the first time since the monster's creation. Victor's words are full of contempt and hate for the monster, who has already killed Justine and William, and the monster expresses his feelings of misery and loneliness, and he talks of how he has received no affection whatsoever, only rejection,
'...I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces, and triumph; remember that and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder, if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts, and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when he condemns me? Let him live with me in an interchange of kindness; and, instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance...'
The heated discussion continues, with Victor hurling abuse at his creation, using words like 'vile insect,' 'abhorred monster,' 'wretched devil,' whilst the monster protests, and, expressing his feeling of loneliness,
begs Frankenstein to create a bride for him, so that he may not be alone for all of eternity.
At the end of the story, when Frankenstein has died, the creature boards the ship intent on taking his final revenge, but is overcome with grief and remorse upon finding Frankenstein dead, having lost the only family he has ever known. Capt. Walton returns to the room in which the body lies, and is startled to see the monster weeping over Victor. The monster tells Walton of his immense solitude, suffering, hatred, and remorse. He asserts now that his creator has died, he too can end his suffering. The monster then departs for the northernmost ice to die.
Much of the 'bad parenting' issue in Frankenstein relates to modern times. There are growing numbers of children from single parent backgrounds where, for certain reasons, they have been abandoned by one or both of their parents. In today's society, it is more commonly the case of fathers abandoning their children very young. There is a significant pattern between the numbers of children who are raised without one or both of their parents and the numbers of children who turn to crime. The tale of Frankenstein's monster relates to this in the same way: he was left to raise himself, having been abandoned by Frankenstein, and murdered several people throughout the story, having not been taught right from wrong. Had Frankenstein been there for the monster and not rejected him from the very beginning, things may not have turned out in the way they did.