Frankenstein

 

Ten feet tall. Green skin. Platform boots. Dead bolts in the neck. Incoherent sentences. Lab experiment. Have you guessed what little fairytale this is about? This misunderstood monster? That’s right. Frankenstein.

            Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus was written by Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley was an English writer, famous during the Gothic and Romantic era of writing. Her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, was a famous Romantic poet and philosopher. Her father, William Godwin, was a well-known political philosopher and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was also well-known as a feminist and philosopher. No surprise that Mary herself became so famous while surrounded by such success, she was derived from it.

            Oddly enough, the first Edition of Frankenstein was published in London in 1818, but only anonymously. During this time, women had made progress (There were a few public figures of feminism such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley’s mother) but writing had always been viewed as a man’s world. It is understandable why she might not put her name on her first addition, especially with the type of story. Mary Shelley did put her name on the second edition of her story that was published in 1823 in France. It is said the Frankenstein Castle, a hilltop castle which is in Odenwald overlooking the city of Darmstadt in Germany, was the inspiration of Mary Shelley’s story. She had traveled Europe and visited this castle in 1814, only 4 years before her first edition of Frankenstein was published. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein_Castle ) “Frankenstein is a German name consisting of two words: The Franks are a German tribe and "stein" is the German word for "stone". Accordingly the meaning of Frankenstein is "Stone of the Franks". The word "stein" is common in names of landscapes, places and castles in Germany. Consequently, the term "Frankenstein" is a rather ordinary name for a castle in this region.”

            Frankenstein, contrary to popular belief, is not the name of the actual creature except for in a stage adaption by Peggy Webling. The name “Frankenstein” comes from the eccentric scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who created the monster himself. The actual creature himself is most often referred to with degrading names such as; Creature, monster, daemon, it. The creature himself, when speaking to Victor, referred to himself as “The Adam of your labour” and “someone who would have been your Adam, but instead is your fallen angel.” In a recent film adaption, Frankenstein’s creature actually names himself Adam. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1418377/ ).

            Victor Frankenstein was born in Naples and, as a boy, was always interested in the works of Alchemists and believed in the “Elixir of life”. He eventually gave up on those dreams and science altogether. He then became interested in chemistry and became obsessed with creating life with inanimate matter. The scientist creates a monster, but is utterly horrified and disgusted by its hideous appearance. Victor Frankenstein flees in an attempt to escape what he’s done. The creature pursues the scientist, intending to get vengeance for his creator abandoning him. SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU PLAN ON READING THE BOOK, DO NOT CONTINUE WITH THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH! IT WILL COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OBLITERATE THE ENDING OF THE STORY! DO NOT CONTINUE TO READ AND BE UPSET THAT THE ENDING OF THIS STORY HAS BEEN RUINED FOR YOU! ….You have been warned.. In the end, Victor Frankenstein seeks out his monster after hearing of terrible things that have happened since his creation got lose. On his journey to find his monster, Victor Frankenstein sadly dies. The monster hears of his creator’s death and, while overwhelmed with grief, decides to destroy himself. He disappears and is never seen or heard from again.

            There are a few different interpretations of this story. The most common is about the power of man. This story is supposed to give a view of the consequences when man tries to play God and mess with the laws of nature. Victor was simply an eccentric scientist who wanted to do something great. In the end, Victor’s creation was nothing like what he had imagine and, ultimately, led to his demise.