Frankenstein

Frankenstein
source
Name	Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
Caption	Frontispiece of the 1818 edition
Author	Mary Shelley
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Gothic fiction, Science fiction
Publisher	Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones
Release date	1 January 1818
Pages	280
Isbn	N/A

Frankenstein, formally titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a foundational novel of Gothic fiction and Science fiction written by English author Mary Shelley. First published anonymously in 1818, the story follows Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. The novel explores profound themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing god, set against backdrops ranging from Geneva to the Arctic.

Plot summary

The narrative is framed through letters written by Robert Walton, an explorer attempting to reach the North Pole, who rescues the ailing Victor Frankenstein in the Arctic Ocean. Frankenstein recounts his life story, detailing his idyllic childhood in Geneva, his education at the University of Ingolstadt, and his obsessive quest to create life from inanimate matter. He succeeds but is horrified by his creation, a grotesque but intelligent creature, and abandons it. The creature, lonely and embittered, learns language and human customs by observing a family in a cottage near the Black Forest and reading works like Paradise Lost. After being rejected by humanity and his creator, the creature seeks revenge, murdering Frankenstein's younger brother William Frankenstein and framing the family's servant, Justine Moritz, who is executed. The creature confronts Frankenstein on the Mer de Glace, demanding he create a female companion. Frankenstein initially agrees but destroys the unfinished mate, leading the creature to vow further vengeance, killing Frankenstein's friend Henry Clerval and his bride Elizabeth Lavenza on their wedding night. The narrative concludes with Frankenstein pursuing the creature to the polar regions, where he dies aboard Walton's ship; the creature, appearing to Walton, expresses remorse before departing to end his own life.

Publication history

Mary Shelley began writing the story in 1816 during a sojourn at Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, a period famously marked by unseasonable weather from the Year Without a Summer. The stay, which included Lord Byron, John Polidori, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, involved a ghost story contest that inspired her initial concept. The first edition was published anonymously in three volumes in 1818 by the London firm Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones. A revised edition, bearing Mary Shelley's name and with significant textual changes, was published in 1831 by Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley as part of their Standard Novels series. This later version, which softened some of Victor Frankenstein's culpability, became the most widely circulated for over a century. The novel's initial critical reception was mixed, with some reviewers praising its power while others found it shocking.

Major themes

The novel is a rich exploration of themes central to the Romantic era and emerging scientific thought. The subtitle, The Modern Prometheus, directly references the Greek myth of Prometheus, who defied the gods to give fire to humanity, paralleling Frankenstein's transgressive act of creation and its catastrophic fallout. It interrogates the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and the ethical responsibilities of the creator, a theme that resonates with contemporary debates following the Industrial Revolution. The nature of monstrosity and societal rejection is examined, as the creature's violence stems from loneliness and persecution rather than innate evil. Other key themes include the pursuit of forbidden knowledge, the sublime power of nature as both a restorative and destructive force, and the complexities of parental and filial obligation.

Characters

* Victor Frankenstein: The protagonist, an ambitious scientist from Geneva whose creation of the creature leads to his ruin. * The Creature (often called Frankenstein's monster): The intelligent, emotionally complex being created by Frankenstein, who becomes vengeful after universal rejection. * Robert Walton: The Arctic explorer who serves as the frame narrator through his letters to his sister, Margaret Saville. * Elizabeth Lavenza: Victor's adopted sister and later his wife, whose murder by the creature is a pivotal tragedy. * Henry Clerval: Victor's childhood friend, whose cheerful disposition contrasts with Victor's obsession; he is murdered by the creature. * Alphonse Frankenstein: Victor's father, a magistrate in Geneva who represents civic virtue and familial concern. * Caroline Beaufort: Victor's mother, who dies of scarlet fever before he leaves for Ingolstadt. * William Frankenstein: Victor's youngest brother, the creature's first murder victim. * Justine Moritz: The family's servant who is wrongly executed for William's murder. * De Lacey Family: A blind father and his children, Felix and Agatha, living in exile; their interactions teach the creature about language and society.

Critical reception and legacy

Upon publication, reviews in periodicals like The Quarterly Review and Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine noted its power and originality, though some found its premise implausible or its tone distressing. Over time, its stature grew immensely, and it is now considered a seminal work of Western literature. The novel has spawned a vast legacy in popular culture, most notably through Universal Pictures' 1931 film adaptation starring Boris Karloff, which cemented the iconic image of the monster in the public consciousness, albeit with significant deviations from the source material. The story has been adapted countless times across theatre, film, television, and other media, influencing the entire genre of horror fiction and debates in bioethics. Academic scholarship continually re-examines the text through lenses such as feminist theory, postcolonialism, and disability studies, affirming its enduring relevance. The novel's exploration of creation and responsibility continues to resonate in discussions of modern science, from genetic engineering to artificial intelligence.

Category:1818 novels Category:British novels Category:Gothic novels Category:Science fiction novels