Frankenstein: Both a Gothic and Romantic Novel

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Mary Shelley began writing “Frankenstien” with the intent of writing a story that frightens its readers. “Frankenstein” is a distinctive novel because it incorporates both Romantic and Gothic elements. In a deeper look at the characters, the role of scientific experimentation, and the settings of nature found in the book, you will appreciate how “Frankenstein” is a great model of both Romantic and Gothic exemplification.
Gothic novels often include highly emotional characters, tragic females and tyrannical males. Elizabeth, Frankenstein’s lifelong friend, is in distress; she is lonely and misses Victor. Elizabeth is the damsel in the story. She needs to be rescued from this unknown threat coming from monster. Victor is a cruel character who brings this creature to life only to turn away from him in disgust. Victor is unable to save Elizabeth, from his creation. He seeks revenge, and wants to destroy the monster. Victor is ultimately overcome with grief, as he blames himself for the death of his loved ones. Frankenstein’s monster has an intense passion of anger and anguish. He acts on impulse, and doesn’t think of the consequences of his actions. These characters are perfect models of characters illustrated in gothic novels.
However Shelley goes a step further by involving Romantic elements in her characters. The main character Victor Frankenstein is a classic romantic character. In the book Victor is on a romantic quest to form “the perfect human.” When making the creature he thought to himself that “life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through” (pg. 40). Victor moves against limitations by playing a God-like role in constructing the being. He is overstepping human boundaries. Victor reflects t...

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...mberland lakes,” (pg. 148). Also far off places where many readers had not been such as “the desert mountains and dreary glaciers,” which is the refuge to the monster (Shelly 84). Although the majority of this story is set in mysterious circumstances it also holds settings of romance.
Shelley incorporates the romantic’s emphasis on the glory and beauty of nature in her novel. For example when Victor returns home, “[he] discovered more distinctly the black sides of Jura, and the bright summit of Mont Blanc” he then explains “Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake! Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid” (Shelley 61). Romantics also focused on the power of nature. As described in Shelley’s novel, “wind arose; the sea roared; and, as with the mighty shock of an earthquake; it split and cracked with a tremendous and overwhelming sound” (Shelley 198)

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