Frankenstein 20%
The gothic genre is presented in Philip Pullman’s play adaptation of Mary Shelley’s original novel, Frankenstein. The play explores setting, characterization and plot. The setting explores the time, location and events in the play; characterisation allows the readers to understand the characters traits and motivations; the plot reflects the conflict, rising action, climax and resolution used.
The gothic genre is reflected through the settings and lifestyle of the 1816s. In Shelley’s period, in the mid 1816, the society were undergoing a new era called the romantic era. During the romantic era men tried to create unnatural figures as anticipated in their dream life and discovering of God-like elements. This reflects Frankenstein because as a philosopher he played around with what was beyond the realm of human possibility, “It’s a human hand! The index finger-yes! It’s definitely moving (Clerval)… I dug it up last night (Frankenstein).” Another gothic example is Frankenstein’s; the monster creation was based in that room. The room had a desk, windows and furniture. As Philip Pullman mentioned, Frankenstein’s room is typically cold and mysterious, “(gives the end of the wire to Clerval, then goes back and pop the window open) we’ll freeze to death, man! (Clerval)”. The coldness of the room represents a figure of death, suffering and/or sadness which portrays gothic. In the end Frankenstein dies at the North Pole out in the snow which also signifies that his death was based in a freezing cold place.
