Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

G.C.S.E English and English Literature coursework:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The novel Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley in 1818, although it was first told orally in 1816. She told the story because she was with her husband, Percy Shelley and some friends, who decided to tell stories, as it was a stormy night in Germany, by the lakeside. They all made up stories and they decided that her story was the best. They suggested that she make her sorry into a book, so she did,

Mary Shelley’s story had many influences. For example electricity had just been discovered in the 18th century, There was also an experiment on a man called Thomas Foster in which it was discovered that when applying electricity onto certain parts of a human corpse, it would make the corpse move, which happens in the story Frankenstein. Mary Shelley was also influenced by her father, William Godwin, a philosopher. Mary Shelley’s mother died during childbirth.

Mary Shelley was brought up believing that men and woman were equal; that she could do anything men could do. She also had a quality education, so she understood science and the human body. Her husband, Percy Shelley, was also amazed at electricity. This is shown in Frankenstein.

Mary Shelly changed the 'Gothic Horror' genre with the story Frankenstein. This story is not just about monsters, as it also has a meaning; that man can play god, and create something evil. She is able to create fear with this story as much now as back in 1818.

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During the first part of the book, Frankenstein works hard at creating like because he has a personal grief for his mother. It goes back to when he was younger, and his mother died during childbirth, this also links to Mary Shelley, whose mother also died in childbirth. He doesn't want people to feel like he does towards his mothers death, so he is dedicated to creating life. He is very persistent with his work and ambitions in his dream. At his point, his character is very worrying, as he is spending all his time trying to create life, and is not thinking properly. He thinks that by creating life he will end all suffering around the world, due to death. He is very interested in science. He wants to push the boundaries of knowledge, and continue the work of a professor who had tried beforehand.

Mary Shelley sets the scene when the monster comes to life in volume one chapter five by using the first person.

"It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld..."

Mary Shelly does this to make the story seem more personal, and get the reader involved. Shelly also uses descriptions of the weather, she uses words like 'dreary' to describe the night. Shelly also sets the scene by describing the lighting in the room as the 'glimmer of the half extinguished light'.

Shelly uses descriptive words, such as 'Dreary' 'and 'Dismal'. This is to emphasize a gothic setting.

The words Mary Shelley uses for her story are very melodramatic, such as "...as if it were to announce the approach of the demonical corpse"

"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe" and

"Great God!" She uses this technique to make her story more exiting to the reader, and emphasize her characters feelings. She is also trying to make the reader share the feelings of the character.

When the monster awakens, Frankenstein has mixed emotions. He is suddenly overcome with fear of the monster. He is immediately critical of the monsters looks, and does not attempt to communicate with the monster, or give the monster a chance to communicate. He cannot describe his feelings when the monster is given life, as he asks rhetorical questions:

"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe?" It is beyond words for him.

According to Frankenstein, the monster has 'yellow skin'.

He also says that 'his hair was of a lustrous black', and 'his teeth of a pearly whiteness'. He says that all of the luxuriance’s form a 'horrid contrast with his watery eyes'.

And Frankenstein says the monster has a 'shrivelled complexion and straight black lips'. Frankenstein describes the monster as looking 'ugly' and a 'demonical corpse'. He goes on to say that the monster 'became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived'. This description suggest that the monster is truly indescribable.

Frankenstein thought that his monster would look normal, and even beautiful.

"His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful.".

Frankenstein uses three phrases about his monster to show his horror. These are the phrase 'catastrophic', 'wretch' and 'horrid'.

Frankenstein is horrified at himself for trying to 'play god'. Frankenstein is horrified at the monster, but also at himself. We know this because of the way he acts when the monster is alive. As soon as the monster comes to life, he instantly knows he has done wrong, and refuses the monster any chance of communicating, and he runs away from his troubles.

Frankenstein’s mind is agitated, and because of this, he has a nightmare of him kissing his wife, and then her turning into the corpse of his dead mother, the kiss of death. Shelley creates fear and tension through this. This dream adds to the sense of doom and atmosphere of horror by adding fear to the readers mind, and it is showing what is going on in Frankenstein’s head. It signifies his love for his mother. It gives detailed descriptions of what is happening.

"...and I saw the grave worms crawling in the folds of the flannel." This adds the picture into the readers head, making them frightened.

Frankenstein then wakes up to see the monster standing by his bed. The monster tries to speak, and it reaches a hand out towards Frankenstein. Frankenstein thinks this meant that the monster was trying to harm him, and that he was evil. He jumps to conclusions.

The significance of the last line in this chapter is that Mary Shelley makes the sky 'Black and comfortless'. This shows that it is not happy, and makes the reader curious of what may happen next.

From Frankenstein's description of his monster coming to life, I would have expected the monster to be physically repulsive, evil and aggressive.

The monsters reactions on coming to life are confused, indistinct, scared and infant like:

"All events of that period appear confused and indistinct".

The monsters account is different from Frankenstein’s account in many ways. Firstly, the monster doesn't mention Frankenstein, or remember anything he did to try and communicate with him. Secondly, Frankenstein's account is very melodramatic, and the monsters account is more reasonable and calmly expressed, and quicker. And also the monster can actually explain how he feels, and Frankenstein can't.

The monster is innocent of his surroundings and situations, examples of this are that he is not aware of danger:

"In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain".

He is also sensitive to his environment:

"One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire...".

The monster learns quickly, he finds out about cooking different foods on fire, and that dire can dry wood so that it will burn.

Frankenstein calls the monster 'a wretch' and a 'demonical corpse'. The monster is not evil. The monster is venerable, defenceless, and innocent, like a baby.

In my opinion, the monster kills because of how it was treated - abandoned as soon as it was brought into life, never loved, and as a result, it wanted to get back at its creator for not caring for him. It knew that Frankenstein mistreated him as he explained how it feels to come to life, not being aware of what is happening, and then to not have anybody to explain about anything, or show how to do things. It only killed to make Frankenstein aware of how he felt.