Frankenstein : The Modern Prometheus (6 points)

I have listened to and watched a decent amount of videos and podcasts that tell an abbreviated version of Frankenstein, yet had not read the full novel until now. Going into the novel, I expected the narrative to focus more on the time when Dr. Frankenstein was constructing The Monster than the period afterward, steeped in the doctor’s paranoia. I was pleasantly surprised by the focus instead being on Dr. Frankenstein’s views on death and tragedy. Shelly put emphasis on the way each of the major deaths of the story revolved around the doctor’s ego more than the tragedy of their individual character. Through this I can see The Monster being an avatar for death and the story being a way to work through the human horror of witnessing your friends and family die while you live on, helpless and grieving. From what I learned of Mary Shelly’s life at the time, must have been a very cathartic outlet for her to express her grief and rage.

As well, I appreciated the nuance in the way Shelly wrote the inner monologues of Dr. Frankenstein and The Monster experiencing the sublime of their surroundings.These sections where the novel turns more Romantic in nature was what kept me the most engaged. When the monster spoke about the forests he lived in, his tone felt more objective, only talking about the beauty of his surroundings when overcome with emotion. This is opposed to the way Dr. Frankenstein talked about the mountains and forests in his travels in more verbose sentences, delving into the sublime feelings of being in nature. Whether the intention had been purposeful or not, it gives another distinction between the natures of the two. The Monster is more childish, archaic, and inhuman, not being able to think in the way Dr. Frankenstein could. 

I enjoyed the book more than I expected to, reveling in the tragedy of Dr. Frankenstein's  circumstances. The readers that can sympathize with The Monster would think that it would be relatively easy for Dr. Frankenstein to understand, being a man supposedly surrounded by love from friends and family, that The Monster seeks kinship. Yet, like any good tragedy, he can not see the answer in front of him, instead delving deeper into madness and paranoia. I love these kinds of stories, so was enthusiastically cheering on his descent.