Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a master class in how to write an exceptional story that stands the test of time. The story follows Frankenstein, an aspiring scientist who sets off to animate a being of his own creation by a divine act of his own mortal hand. A tale as old as time that still rings true today, Shelley’s novel explores the consequences of playing God and all the horrors that come with them.  

Before I read the book, I had no inkling of how much I would resonate with Frankenstein’s monster. I wasn’t able to glean much about his inclination for compassion and belonging from the film adaptations I’ve seen, so this reading experience opened my eyes a great deal. I enjoyed the narrative style as Frankenstein and the monster both got a chance to explain their feelings and actions from their respective points of view. I can also say that I now have a more full and unbiased understanding of the story’s overall message.  

Frankenstein’s unwavering arrogance is a relatable human trait, and his regret and despair is palpable as he suffers the repercussions of his selfish actions. The monster feels dynamic and evokes a great deal of sympathy within a reader such as myself. He learns so much and contemplates deeply in his isolation about how to exist in a world that can’t see past his physical deformities, which is both heartbreaking and moving.

My favorite part of Shelley’s story is when the monster sets off on his own path of discovery. His inner narrative is gripping and tangible as he ponders on feelings of rejection, pain, and vengeance towards his creator as well as mankind. I believe through the monster’s eyes, the follies of man are seen so clearly in the way that we are hasty to judge and quick to assume that we deserve to—or simply should—unlock all the secrets of the universe. There are even themes of father and son dynamics woven into this cautionary tale, tragic as the implications of abandoning your own offspring out of fear and remorse may be.  

Shelley’s style feels so modern and accessible despite how old her novel is. The book strikes the horror themes well, successfully conveying an overall somber and tragic mood throughout. Though it is not a very uplifting book, it is a very compelling story from start to finish. I enjoyed the story’s openly interpretive conclusion, and I spent a lot of time contemplating the message of the narrative long after I put the book down. Frankenstein is a thought-provoking and ever-revered classic everyone should read at least once.

A chilling account of hubris and horror, Mary Shelley delivers a story that I won’t forget any time soon. Its impact on my view of the main characters can’t be overstated, and if one were to read it and sympathize with Frankenstein, I believe they may not be looking deep enough at the underlying message. Relevant as ever, Frankenstein centers around a subject that has always been—and always will be—a topic of great debate: Who is the real monster? Man, or the so-called monsters we create?

Reference
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Peter Pauper Press, Inc., 2024.