Frankenstein: Questioning the Monster

     Contrary to what the film adaptation of Frankenstein maybe, the book is far from the film interpretation that has captivated audiences when it graced the big screen back in 1931. The source material though is a completely different breed. The book was written about a century prior to getting a film and had to rely on its text and syntax to grab the attention of the reader.

   The book in my observation seems to be multiple genres into one. It is the "triple threat" It encompasses the Gothic themes of romanticism while also exploring science fiction and horror genres. From Victor's abandonment of the monster to the horrors of the monster to the science fiction of the monsters creation.

   The book is more or less about Frankenstein himself and not the monster. in fact the monster isn't introduced until halfway through the book. The monster's creation in fact harkens to the science fiction aspect of the book of its creation. "One man's life or death is but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge for which i sought. for the dominion that i should acquire." this pegs the question to the reader of just because you could, doesn't mean you should. Victor came from well off enough place with friends and family. But his ambitions led him to create a creature that he himself would abandon which in effect would make him a dead beat. After the creation he runs in terror from his own "son" and proceeds to live his life normally without much thought or concern to the life that he had damned. 

   This "abandonment" in turn leads the book to encompass the Gothic romantic norms as the story shifts to the monster and his struggles with the mortal emotions. coming into the world dazed and without basic knowledge of bodily functions. He had to learn everything a newborn baby would learn from their parents. Being a monster so hideous that his own father would run from him has left him damned as his further human interactions had only exposed him to the horrors of human nature as he is repeatedly attacked and shunned for even attempting to communicate and later save them.  

   One of the mature themes that I have found profoundly interesting in the book is one of the argument of Nature vs Nurture. which in itself is reflected in both Frankenstein and his monster. With Victor encompassing the aspect of Nurture, Victor's life couldn't have been more easier. he came from a loving family and friends. However in the end he could be argued as being the monster as he had damned this creature to suffer an existence it hadn't even asked for. On the other hand the Monster represent Nature and the idea of the strongest surviving. Although damned and cursed with abnormal strength he is by all means alone and relying solely on his instincts at first. but as time goes on he learns and goes against his "monster" nature in an attempt to be accepted into society. 

   The book by all counts is truly a timeless classics as few works can be held to encompass on genre well let alone 3!