Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Gothic Horror

Shelly’s ‘’Frankenstein’’ is regarded as the first modern horror

novel. It is in fact, a Gothic horror. The story came about mainly

from a dream shelly had. The dream was heavily influenced by her

background and past personal experiences. These include her visits to

galvanism experiments, a visit to the Rock of Franks; a castle which

translated gives ‘’Frankenstein’’ and her surroundings at the time,

which where the Alps that made up the setting for some of the book.

Other issues, which might have affected the outcome of the book, are

her failed pregnancy, which could be linked to victors mother dieing.

Events of the time had led to a near breakthrough to bring the dead to

life and the near full exploration of the Earth leaving only the poles

unexplored. Romantic and Gothic styles are used in the book the

romantic style is the awe of nature a good example is ‘‘the abrupt

sides of vast mountains were before me; the icy wall of the glacier

overhung me’’ and the Gothic style is the psychological that

encompasses the very personal themes of life and death this is shown

by ‘’how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains I had

endeavoured to form’’.

The Story begins with Walton’s letters to his sister, he talks a lot

about his ambitions of mapping the arctic and finding a companion who

shares his ruthless ambition. After awhile he finds Frankenstein

floating on a sheet of ice. After being nursed back to health

Frankenstein begins his story. Victor talks about his childhood, how

his mother died in childbirth, his younger brother Edward, and how he

has read books about philosophy and alchemy most of which have been

long disproved. Then he continues about when he was at university and

his growing obsession with creating a being from the dead parts of

humans also known as galvanism. Then he moves on to how he becomes

obsessive and how it is only after he succeeds he realises what he has

done and realises the implications of his dream. After being nurse

back to health by his friend Henry Cherval Victor realises how badly

he has treated his family and decides to return to his family, however

before he can do this he receives a letter about his brother being

murdered, the killer is presumed to be the family servant Justine and

because Victor makes no mention of the monster she is hanged, victors

farther also dies short after of a broken heart after losing William.

Victor decides to travel to cope with his grief. It is at this point

the monster appears and asks for a bride.