Frankstein

Gothic aspects of Frankenstein:

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein has many elements of gothic literature. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of gothic literature is a dark, eerie setting that creates a feeling of foreboding. The next is a sense of horror or dread that revolves around an alienated or isolated protagonist. The protagonist is in some cases is a wanderer who is stalked by an evil villain. There are also supernatural elements in gothic novels.

 In Frankenstien the setting begins in the letters of Captain R Walton to his sister. He is stuck in the ice on his ship in the cold, wasteland of the North Pole looking for friendship. We are waiting for something bad to happen. A sense of isolation for the character is also evident and continues with both Frankenstein and, of course, his Monster.

Frankenstein’s parents adopt Elizabeth so he will have a future wife. We can tell Frankenstein must not be a social butterfly.  This aspect of the story is a kind of contrived incest which we can be seen in other gothic novels. With Frankenstein, the isolation continues in school and the isolation with his belief in alchemy and his attempts to “bestow animation upon lifeless matter”. An eerie feeling continues as Frankenstein tells his story of the decays of the body as he tries to revive the corpses and collects his bones and body parts.

The book raises the question at the beginning whether science is part of the gothic element. In some ways it reveals a fantasy aspect but it could also be seen as a supernatural element that was prevalent in the gothic novels. However, the monster was a man-made creation from the elements of nature.

As the book continues with Frankenstein’s return home and the creation of the monster. Isolation and rejection continues with the monster. Additionally, the feeling of dread is heightened as we witness the cycle of rejection, revenge and murder.  Revenge is another prominent gothic element and it is heavily evident in the relationship between Frankenstein and his monster. The death of Frankenstein’s brother is the monster’s revenge for rejection of his ugly appearance. The tearing apart of Elizabeth is due to Frankenstein’s killing of the monster’s mate. It is no surprise that both the monster and Frankenstein meet their demise.

The setting is really on the boat but describes multiple areas as Frankenstein and the monster go from one place to another. This also adds the element of the exotic which complements the gothic tone with such places as the Artic, the Alps, France, and England. When you think gothic, you think dark castles. Shelly also added a castle in the mix.