Comparing Frankenstein To James Whale's

Since the original novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, to the multiple movie adaptations, the monster is almost always predicted as the monster of the story. It may be his physical appearance, from his tall, broad frame, to the signature screws in his neck. It may also be his unnatural upbringing and interpreted evil characteristics. We have grown to fear the monster, which ultimately, has masked the true monster, Dr. Frankenstein. With each coming movie, the good side of the monster is brought to light, while the real monster shows his true colors.
The first ever adaptation of the famous novel is the iconic Frankenstein, directed by James Whale. We may owe our thanks to this film for bringing the story, and unique characters, to life, and setting the stage for newer adaptations to come. Out of all the Frankenstein’s, I personally believe the

monster in this film is the most frightening. This is the first time we get to actually see him, instead of creating a character in our imagination. This causes an initial shockwave of fear among the audience. His large frame, squared-off head, and large screws driven through his neck are enough to visit your nightmares. His demener throughout the film, add much more to that initial fear. A heavy, unbalanced step, along with the inability to speak, is terrifying. These characteristics have ultimately engraved themselves into the audience’s minds, blinding them to the underlying evil.
The underlying evil, to which the audience was unable to see, was Dr. Frankenstein himself. His vile search for power is overcome by the monsters’ outward appearance. Although at the time of release it was bypassed, there is one big warning sign that stands out like a sore thumb. After Dr. Frankenstein successfully brought the dead alive, he exclaims “Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God” (Whale, 1931). The search for power is one small thing, but the search for Gods power, is sinful. Regardless of religious beliefs, God is a symbol of the almighty, and the most powerful. To seek the ultimate power is evil. We can later catch him declares, “Well, if I could discover just one of these things, what eternity is, for example, I wouldn't care if they did think I was crazy” (Whale, 1931). To further the evidence of his insanity, he genuinely has no regards of what others might think of his doings. At this point, he is so consumed in power, he is losing his human characteristics.
The release of Bride of Frankenstein, also directed by James Whale, is the turning point of the development of the monster.

Although it is the same monster we see in the previous film, more depth is added to the character. The first major breakthrough for the monster was the scene he encounters the blind man. This is the first time we see him be kind. The air between the two is light and friendly, creating hope for the monster. They even solidify themselves as friends, the first big stepping stone to the transformation of the monster we soon will see. Another big plot revolves around the monsters want for someone “like him”. This suggests deep down in that conscious of his, he has realized how different, and unaccepted, he truly is. When he finally gets his wish, he soon realizes it was never meant to be. Another big breakthrough for the development of his conscious. He makes the courageous, even humane, decision to end both of their lives. The monster knows they were never meant to live, because death was always their calling. We even catch a glimpse of a lone tear stream down his cheek because of his valiant

decision.
Young Frankenstein, directed by Mel Brooks, showed the most change in Dr. Frankenstein himself. As the film opens, Dr. Frankenstein refuses to be related to the late Frankenstein who had a history of working in the supernatural science, by correcting the students on the pronunciation of his last name. Here, it is safe to assume Dr. Frankenstein wants no relation to him, or his work. Yet, as the film unfolds, his thirst for power erupts exactly like the previous films. From here on out, it is a constant cycle of emotions towards the monster. Dr. Frankenstein immediately rejects his creation, only to see the beauty in bringing the dead back to life all over again. Many believe Dr. Frankenstein’s choice to give part of his brain to the monster, so he has the ability to voice his thoughts to the townsfolk around him, as a sincere motive. This is another example of the blindness of the audience. The sincere gesture hides the underlying motive. Dr. Frankenstein’s choice was driven by his want for his creature to be unnaturally alive, along with the power he gained from it.
The last film, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh, was the most monumental of them all. In this film, we see a complete interpretation of the monster. With his ability to talk, we are able to delve deep inside his conscious and what he is feeling. When the monster runs into the blind man in this film, he shows compassion for him and his family. He is able to comprehend the family’s’ distraught over the frozen crop, thus leading him to an act of kindness towards them. He also has a better grasp on who he is, and finds it quite troubling. He does find a means to make peace stating, “I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all” (Branagh, 1994). In the very end, the monster digs deep down into his heart to find love, and that little bit of hope that he clings to. Although we do see the monster lash out quite a bit throughout this film, it is directly a result of the treatment he had to suffer.
These four movies work in harmony with one another to create a bigger picture. Looking back throughout the films, the monsters interpretation has continuously changed. Overtime, we are able to see his compassion, kindness, humanity, love, and hope. He did not just grow as a creature, but as a person. Anderberg wrote in his analysis, “The creature has feelings of joy, hope, despair – isn’t this what makes us human” (Anderberg, 2014). On the contrary, there is one character who remained consistent throughout the years, Dr Frankenstein. As we can see, he has always contained evil in him, it was just overseen by our inability to understand the monster. In fact, the monster is not a monster at all. The real monster of this story is Dr Frankenstein. He is a “reckless scientist who unleashed a creature on society that was helpless to combat the horrors and rejection that society placed on him due to his difference” (Anna Marie, 2014). His lack of guidance, and acceptance, was primarily the reason the monster himself came to be known as “Frankenstein”.