Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Introduction

Frankenstein is a novel, which is written by Mary Shelley. She wrote it when she was 18 and it was published in the next year. Its first edition was published anonymously in 1818 in London, while the name of the writer was mentioned in the second volume in France. Frankenstein, was adopted as a film story in 1994, it has many alterations as per need of the director or his choice. In this novel, Victor Frankenstein is a scientist who learns to create life. He creates a being which is larger and more powerful than an average man. Frankenstein has numerous personality aspects like he possess some elements of the Romantic Movement as well as horror. This novel is an initial example of science fiction, too (Williams, 34).

Discussion and Analysis

Victor Frankenstein has been raised in gentility by doting parents. He has two younger brothers Ernest and William and an adopted sister, Elizabeth, to whom he is engaged to be married. Victor is exposed to death for the first time when his beloved mother dies from scarlet fever after nursing Elizabeth through her own bout with the disease. His brooding obsession with life and death is awakened and he eventually leaves for the university to study science and philosophy at Ingolstadt. As a student, Frankenstein applies himself to the goal of creating life and renewing life where death has taken life. He works night and day in isolation and at the expense of his health. Through horrifying and gruesome experiments Victor is soon successful (Thornburg, 162).

The monster awakens, his eyes open, he breathes his first breath. Victor flees from the chamber to his bedroom in shock leaving the monster alone. Victor finally falls asleep on his bed. Dreams of death and corruption fill his mind until he awakes in horror. As he awakes in the dim room he becomes aware that the monster is standing next to his bed reaching out his hand to him and attempting to speak. Victor escapes the touch of the monster and rushes from the house. While Victor is fleeing his creation he runs into his best friend Henry Clerval. He brings Henry back to his apartment and finds the monster is gone. Victor falls ill and is nursed throughout the winter by Henry. We hear nothing of what has become of the monster during those months. We just know that he is gone (Christopher, 352).

As spring arrives Victor regains his health and is cheered by Henry. They engage in study together and take a walking tour later that year. It has been nearly two years since the monster has disappeared. Victor appears to have forgotten the abomination and looks forward to his return to his family in Geneva. As he returns from his tour he finds a letter from his father. He finds that it contains dreadful news. His brother William has been murdered (Seabury, 43).

Victor begins his journey home deeply grieved over the murder of his youngest sibling. As he nears his home ...