Frankenstein Synthesis Essay

The book Frankenstein is written in a very negative, dark tone. Shelley relies on the specific literary styles of doom and gloom, and much imagery, with no glimmer of hope for the monster. Her literature is called gothic literature, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, a style of literature that combines elements of horror and romance. Immediately upon its creation, Shelley convinces the reader that the monster accepts the role of recognizing there is no foreseeable happiness in his life. From the initial creation of the monster by Frankenstein, the monster questions its identity, immediately acknowledging that it will not have a recognizable personality or gender.

I will choose to identify male as the gender of the monster for ease

I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same nature as man. I was more agile than they and could subsist upon coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to my frame; my stature far exceeded theirs. When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned? (13.17) One begins to create this monster character visually, and Shelley then adds an additional level of intrigue as to how the monster will function in life. Without the ability to speak, the monster observed others through a window. He learned about their mannerisms and language and was finally confident to face someone who could give it a chance, versus fearing it – and view him on the inside and not by its physical appearance.

But nothing is positive; rather, the reader develops a sense of empathy for the monster as he enters the world with just a touch of hope that he is appreciated for other than the monstrous outside. That hope was soundly dashed. The reader is taken further into the pit of hopelessness and

The monster became very scary to the outside world even though his actions showed otherwise. This quote clearly depicts his innate need to help someone in trouble, as any normal human would do. The reader is able to place the monster into a very human situation of helping another person, but we soon see that the monster cannot overcome his appearance which carries the theme of misery and hopelessness.

"I was scarcely hid when a young girl came running towards the spot where I was concealed, laughing, as if she ran from someone in sport. She continued her course along the precipitous sides of the river, when suddenly her foot slipped, and she fell into the rapid stream. I rushed from my hiding-place and with extreme labour, from the force of the current, saved her and dragged her to shore. She was senseless, and I endeavoured by every means in my power to restore animation, when I was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a rustic, who was probably the person from whom she had playfully fled. On seeing me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened towards the deeper parts of the wood. I followed speedily, I hardly knew why; but when the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body and fired. I sank to the ground, and my injurer, with increased swiftness, escaped into the