Monsters and the Monstrous in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

2183 Words5 Pages

Examine the Concept of Monsters and the Monstrous in Mary Shelley’s

Frankenstein

Miss Hutton

“Frankenstein” has a variety of monsters and monstrous

things/incidents within it, however I am jus going to focus on some

main aspects of the monsters and monstrous.

Shelley got the idea for “Frankenstein” whilst she was on holiday. AS

well as being challenged by Lord Byron to produce a horror novel, she

was also influenced death many times; she was abandoned and had a

literacy upbringing.

Shelley relates her story to fears which were carried by many humans

at that time. As a lot of science was happening people thought God

would get upset and not want humans to interfere with what he/she had

created.

In the late 18th century and early 19th centuries science was rapidly

progressing. Experiments and techniques using dead animals and humans

were also increasing e.g. galvanism bringing drowning victims “back to

life”. Ideas and fears of grave digging and experimenting with human

bodies were also increasing. This was frightening as many people

believed it may prevent resting in peace.

On one hand, the scientific discoveries and experiment were exciting,

but on the other it was terrifying. The key fear was that man was

trying to “play God” and this was an action against God and could end

in disaster. Mary Shelley clearly embodies the fears of her time in

this novel.

Modern audiences still enjoy reading and watching horror as we know we

can walk away from it and continue our lives. Frankenstein was and

still is one of the greatest horror books written. It is still

relevant to incidents happening today. Children dress up as the

monster at Halloween and directors still try producing newer versions

of the movie.

People view the creature as a monster purely based on its aesthetics,

“I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then…” Victor

comments on the monsters looks a lot throughout the novel and as the

story progresses the creature realises how hideous he is too. Later on

in the novel the creature commits horrific crimes, “Could the daemon

who had murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have betrayed

the innocent to death and ignominy?” This quote is from Victor, after

victor gets the news that his brother is murdered he immediately

thinks that the creature murdered him. Victor has a 2D image of the

creature from the beginning and that is that he’s a monster. The

creature murders many innocent people and also blackmails Victor. The

creature also has supernatural powers which frighten the other

characters in the story. The most monstrous of things is that he

enjoys some of the murders he commits, “I gazed on my victim and my

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