In what ways can Mary Shelley's

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Antonia Redgrove        English Coursework        Frankenstein

In what ways can Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" Be considered as a Gothic novel?  Can Gothic literature still appeal to us today?

Gothic Literature was most popular from about 1764 until 1832, a period of nearly seventy years.  At this time there were many successful and famous authors who wrote books which contained a somewhat 'gothic theme'.  These include the famous Bronté Sisters with the novels 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre', both of which can be found on many modern bookshelves of today.  As well as the famous sisters, well know authors, of the time, also included Ann Radcliffe with her 'Mysteries of Udolpho' and Horace Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto'.  Amongst the most famous Gothic writers Mary Shelley can also be found with her chilling story of 'Frankenstein'.  Each book of this period will have contained some key characteristics to make it distinguishable from other books in history.  The characteristics deal with aspects of the story or novel, and are usually very prominent within the book.  These include the setting, nature, atmosphere, presence of the supernatural, plot, characters and language of the story.  

Mary Shelley, when writing 'Frankenstein', may have been influenced by other Gothic writers of her time, as well as ideas and events, which took place around her. At the same time that Shelley wrote 'Frankenstein' there were many new discoveries taking place and scientific research was just reaching a higher level. Shelley had a great understanding of the scientific debates and discoveries of her time and this was due to her inquisitive streak for the new discoveries in chemistry, and the secret life that it might provide.  The first stages of the Industrial Revolution were also taking place and the French Revolution was the start of a new era in history.  It is also known that Shelley reveals an outraged awareness of social injustice and a passionate desire for reform within her novel.  This is shown through the treatment of a certain character within the book.  

When deciding whether Shelley's 'Frankenstein' can be considered a Gothic novel we have to take into account each aspect of a 'typical Gothic novel' and compare it with Shelley's work.   

In a Gothic novel the setting in which the story has been told usually consists of a grand castle, (or similar) which may be isolated or at least very mysterious.  The setting may seem dark and eerie and certainly not familiar.  It may also be described as being majestic and almost medieval in a way.  In 'Frankenstein' the tale is not set in one lone place but in many different and sometimes peculiar settings.  For example, when Victor Frankenstein starts work on his monster he is said to be working in:

'a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all other apartments by a gallery and staircase'

This produces an image of a hideous workshop in which Victor is creating another 'human being' of a very different kind.  The fact that is has been called a cell makes it enclosed and almost 'hellish' because one would associate a cell with a prison in which you would be locked and confined.  As well as this, later on in the novel, when Victor travels with Henry Clerval back to England, the place in which they visit is described as being a:

        

        '…majestic assemblage of towers, and spires, and domes, embosomed among aged trees'

Although described in beauty, this setting is somewhat typical and creates a far away feeling as all the towers, spires and domes rise above the two men.  These magnificent structures are also set among, what seems, a partly wooded area, which adds to the mystical feeling of where they will be staying, and where Victor will create a second monster.  From these two examples 'Frankenstein' certainly appears to be following a Gothic tradition, although no settings within the story are particularly dark and medieval.  

        As well as the setting, the nature in which the story is surrounded would normally be very powerful, grand and extremely dramatic.  For example, black gloomy clouds and thunder and lighting were a very typical change in weather during a tense time in the story line.  It was also very typical to have a bad weather spurt during a difficult time for particular characters within the book.  This is very true in 'Frankenstein’ and it "was on a dreary night of November' when Victor finishes his first monster.  Another example of where nature changes according to the mood of the novel is when Victor re-visits the murder scene of his younger brother William:

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        'The storm appeared to approach rapidly; and, on landing, I ascended a low hill, that I might observe its progress.  It advanced; the heavens were clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large drops, but its violence quickly increased.'

The weather in the book seems to add to the dreariness and sadness or intensity of a scene and this is very true towards the end of the novel.  When Elizabeth is about to be murdered and Victor grows increasingly agitated the clouds are said to sweep across the heavens more swiftly than the 'flight of ...

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