‘Frankenstein’ or the ‘Modern Prometheus’ written by Mary Shelley was the product of a range of historical, cultural and philosophical ideologies of the time. The book was written in England during the Enlightenment Era and thus, embraces ideas relevant to the period as well. Victor Frankenstein was a scientist who in an attempt of experimentation creates a monstrous and grotesque creature using his scientific abilities. The story is about the downfall of Victor Frankenstein after the creation of this creature whom he abandons. The creature is born 8ft tall and ugly to look at, but with the mind of a new born child.
Fred V. Randel’s text elaborates upon Mary Shelley’s underlying intention for each choice of location for every specific plot point or event in Frankenstein. He relates places with significant value with real life historical events and happenings from the past. Randel explains that Shelley strategically placed each homicide and murder committed in an explicit locale to illustrate its historical importance. He argues that it is through these settings and the significance they possess in the past, that she is able to further deepen and expand Frankenstein’s gothic theme. Randel develops meaning behind the places of Ingolstadt and the Northern Lights, Geneva, England and Scotland, Ireland and Evian to prove his thesis of the importance of political geography.
yThroughout the exploration of the module “Texts in Time”, we observe the connections between texts and their reflections of the constancy in human nature, whilst shifting contextual perspectives are maintained. Such a connection is demonstrated in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein” (F/stein) and Scott Ridley’s 1991 film “Bladerunner”, where both composers present a cautionary tale, warning us of the implications of science and technological advances on humanity and thus reflecting their own fears in their respective contextual eras. It is through the analysis of such values and implications that we can see the constancy of human nature throughout time. Frankenstein is a gothic inspired, fragmented epistolary, reflecting the rebellion of the Romantic Movement, which advocated the power of imagination, and ones relationship to nature. The gothic convention of sublime nature is represented thematically, through forces of good and evil leading to vengeance and murder, as well as macabre settings of graveyards and charnel houses.
To what extent does a comparative study accentuate the influence of context on Frankenstein and Blade Runner? While issues change throughout history, values are often similar but presented from the perspective of an era. Mary Shelley's 1800's Frankenstein and Ridley Scott's 1982 Director's cut of Blade Runner essentially explore the same themes. The messages of ambition and science to usurp God and the loss of humanity reflect the time and contexts of the texts. Frankenstein depicts the ambition to use science to usurp God, influenced by the eighteenth century Enlightenment movement (encouraging reasoning to understand the universe), advancements in science in the nineteenth century and the concept of restoration of life through electricity, known as 'galvanism'.
Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the classic novels of the 19th century and considered by some to be the first actual work of science fiction. The plot of the story is that an aspiring scientist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, reanimates a corpse and afterwards the monster takes revenge on his neglectful creator. The books popularity and influence has led to a long string of movies and adaptations. The most recognizable of these films is the 1931 Frankenstein starring the horror icon Boris Kosloff. The director, John Whale, and his staff made several changes to the story in order to create more cinematic material.
The role of the monster is deprived in a variety of different ways throughout gothic fiction and images of the monster can be found in writings by the prophetic historian and social commentator Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881, both in The French Revolution, 1837, and in his many comments on the growing strength and articulation of the mass of industrial workers and their increasing political demands. The novelist Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, inherited from his reading of Carlyle a strong sense that society was becoming mechanized so that people were beginning to be transformed into a robotic state. In Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, 1818, creates a phenomenal creature which makes the reader question humanity and the way people are treated. The monster although uneducated becomes eloquent and brave but is still seen as an outcast due to his grotesque appearance and the fact he has had no parenting. The French Revolution, which began in 1789, resulted in the overthrow of the French monarchy and ultimately helped Napoleon Bonaparte to seize control in 1799.
Within this theme we see the reoccurring element of gothic villains where “the exaggeration of just one aspect of the beautiful can produce the hideous,” (Bayer 80) in this case it is literal and can be applied to the monster where this is achieved with “combinations of the normal or even beautiful through an unexpected fusion of different realms. “ (Bayer 80) When victor builds the monster, he wants to make the perfect creation. Driven by his goal of fame from the fellow scientists, whatever he is able to create will be judged by all. This is why he obsesses over finding the perfect ingredients and parts day and night neglecting his own health for that of his perfect monster. He finds only the best parts Senechal 2 of the best bodies and sews them together and the gothic element is added.
Perhaps it is true and applies to this “double” situation when they say “you are who you marry.” This brings meaning and relates to Frankenstein in the sense that unconsciously, Frankenstein creates a creature that possesses and resembles Frankenstein’s most deep and inner thoughts and desires. He is able to mimic himself through his own creation and therefore cannot grasp to lose the connection he shares with the monster. Subtly and indefinitely, Frankenstein is depicted to share a bond with the monster by exhibiting the uncanny, raw and, monster-like characteristics, while the creature shares both the emotional and unrefined aspect of his creator. Throughout the novel, there are constant references to elements of the non-living and/or the re-creation of man and/or human form. Victor Frankenstein proves to posses an uncanny passion for the dark and paranormal.
Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, which was published in 1818 on the basis of a dare to write a horror story, introduces many controversial issues; issues that were controversial in her time as they meddle with life and creation and question whether or not people are born as evil beings. This was a time when society, disrupted by the French revolution 20 years earlier, looked to science for certainty. Victor Frankenstein, a determined scientist, a man with a good childhood, in pursuit of his selfish desires; brought about his own downfall. These issues still resonate in the present time. Victor Frankenstein was very interested in the creation of life from a young age, and worked hard to find an answer.
The theme in any work of literature is the underlying idea and main purpose (Kirszner, and Mandell 4). One such theme that has been rewritten throughout time is the idea of death and its inevitability. It is an interesting subject that has been revisited by many authors and poets, and has a great range of perception. Writers find a way to explain a concept and a truth that they believe through different forms of literature. Everything from a three line haiku to a 1000 page novel has an underlying theme.