How To Write A Critique Of Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who created a monster in a scientific experiment. Shortly after discovering he had created a self loathing monster, Victor immediately began to regret his decision. After being denied a companion to love and be loved by, the monster makes it his mission to destroy the life of Victor Frankenstein as he knew it. Going to great lengths, the monster decides to end lives in return of Victor’s sufferings. In 1824, six years after the initial publication of Frankenstein, the Knight’s Quarterly Review offered an early critique: “I do not think I ever was so much disappointed in any book... I had the very highest expectations of the maturing of the genius which

could produce such a work as Frankenstein. The faults of Frankenstein were occasional extravagance and overwriting;...-- instead of the rapidity and enthusiastic energy which hurries you forward in Frankenstein, everything is cold, crude, nonconsecutive, and wearisome; -- not one flash of imagination, not one spark of passion.” Disagreeing with this statement and personally pleased when reading the book, Frankenstein was a very well constructed novel. Shelley did a spectacular job making the reader feel connected to the novel on an emotional level.

The book is written in first person as a series of narratives. The book is super easy to understand with pretty transparent characters. The plot is easy to follow with an intensified climax. It is a suspenseful story with an excellent exploration of the many motives, emotions and actions pervading the human mind. Guilt and apprehensiveness are a few examples of emotion that played a big role in the novel that the reader can relate to. Victor battled with Justine’s death;A thousand time rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; “but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would have exculpated her who suffered through me”(Shelley 54). Victor never got over the guilt he felt over the deaths that took place as a result of his creation. Shelley also portrayed many themes. She explored the themes of natural law, justice, evil vs. good, love, loss, redemption, and death. The human instinct of revenge is also displayed throughout the novel, “the wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he deprived for happiness, and, with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew”(Shelley

121). Victor wanted so badly to inflict revenge upon the monster for all the villainous acts he had committed. Shelley also related to the reader by writing about the monsters need for affection, companionship and love; “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge” (Shelley 97). These feelings are relatable to every human.