Helpful Score: 1
It is a shame that "Frankenstein" was ever taken to the big screen. When you mention Frankenstein images of a green nonspeaking creature, lighting storms, a crazed scientist screaming "It's Alive!".
Instead this is a very nuanced horror story. Even the point of bringing the creature to life was in retrospect with very little detail and absolutely no lightning.
The horror in this book explored the modern conception that all scientific progress is good, what is a creator's responsibility for his/her invention, and the human reaction to rejection... particularly by one's creator. Further it questions how quickly we can consider someone a "monster" all too quickly without waiting to find out what's beyond the outer appearance and vice-versa. In the end you question who was the monster: Dr. Frankenstein or his creation. His creation was articulate, intelligent, gentle, and desiring love and to love. The doctor was obsessive, impulsive, and could never get past "the monster" he created even when he articulated so clearly to him how much it wanted his acceptance. Eventually, the creation turned into the creator and himself then became a monster.
I started the book expecting something closer to the movie versions and was quickly engrossed by the narcissistic doctor and all the underlying problems that arose because of his carelessness. Shelley has the writing punch of a Tolstoy or Steinbeck, etc, but this book is well worth the read.
Instead this is a very nuanced horror story. Even the point of bringing the creature to life was in retrospect with very little detail and absolutely no lightning.
The horror in this book explored the modern conception that all scientific progress is good, what is a creator's responsibility for his/her invention, and the human reaction to rejection... particularly by one's creator. Further it questions how quickly we can consider someone a "monster" all too quickly without waiting to find out what's beyond the outer appearance and vice-versa. In the end you question who was the monster: Dr. Frankenstein or his creation. His creation was articulate, intelligent, gentle, and desiring love and to love. The doctor was obsessive, impulsive, and could never get past "the monster" he created even when he articulated so clearly to him how much it wanted his acceptance. Eventually, the creation turned into the creator and himself then became a monster.
I started the book expecting something closer to the movie versions and was quickly engrossed by the narcissistic doctor and all the underlying problems that arose because of his carelessness. Shelley has the writing punch of a Tolstoy or Steinbeck, etc, but this book is well worth the read.
