Mary Shelley's Presentation of the Relationship Between Frankenstein and the Creature

Mary Shelley's Presentation of the Relationship Between Frankenstein and the Creature

'It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment

of my toils.' These are the famous words of Mary Shelley that foretold

the birth of Frankenstein's monster. A tale of catastrophe, love and

endless yet hopeless toil; the tale of Victor Frankenstein is a

perfect example of early gothic literature. Born on a dreary summer in

1816, his story has been immortalised in not only the pages of many

books but also on the silver screen.

Like many of its genre, Frankenstein is a terrifically dark yet

pioneering story. Its graveyard settings, the persecuted maiden, and

the seemingly forlorn character that excels at melancholy, are all

signs of a gothic influenced novel. Yet it still contains that spark

of creativity that sets it apart from the rest of the genre.

Written at a time of great scientific discoveries, Frankenstein pushes

at the boundaries of medical theories. Like many of the scientists of

the time, Victor Frankenstein's efforts, although frowned upon as to

their base fundamentals were still admired and held readers for

centuries to follow.

Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus) tells the story of Geneva born

Victor Frankenstein and his never-ending efforts in the search for the

gift of life. Following his mother's death during childbirth he began

to strive to find an answer to the finality that is death. It was

through his experiments that he came to create the creature that would

forever haunt his life.

One of the more appealing aspects of the book is the most unfortunate

relationship between Frankenstein and the cre...

... middle of paper ...

... away.

This also links into the idea that they were both 'bound together

until death'. Neither could find the inner strength to leave the

other. Frankenstein is constantly thinking of his creation and what he

has done. He comes to the conclusion that he himself will not be able

to rest until the creature is dead. In this sense he is most

definitely bound to the creature until a time that it is killed.

The creature on the other hand has mixed reasons for needing

Frankenstein. It seems, through most of the story that it only wants

him so he can create a partner for it. However, upon nearing the end

of the book and Walton's narrative, it is realised that the creature

stayed close, as Frankenstein was the only person that showed enough

compassion to even sit and talk with it let alone show some sort of

acceptance.