Frankenstein: If you can,
should we?
This
stunning novel is considered the first text of the science fiction genre.
Resulted from a "competition" between Lord Byron, John Polidori (his
personal physician) and the marriage of Percy and Mary Shelley, in the summer
of 1816. That year saw the eruption of Tambora, and the northern hemisphere
endured a long and cold "volcanic winter". This situation, together
with the scientific experiments performed by Luigi Galvani and the writings of
Erasmus Darwin surely influenced Mary when writing "Frankenstein".
The
idea of the power of electricity to revive and inert bodies was taken from
Galvani and his experiments with frogs muscles.
The
story of Victor Frankenstein, a medical student obsessed with knowing "the
secrets of heaven and earth" and unraveling "the mysterious soul of
man", brings to the fore the struggle between science and ethics: can we
do anything just because we know how to do?Victor knows how to return a lot of
pieces to life, and he does. He does not stop to think that will happen later
with his creation. He just sees the opportunity, has the means and knowledge,
and does not hesitate to pull the switch that will make electricity flow by the
monstrous body to give it life.
When Victor Frankenstein realizes the implications of what he has created, he rejects the results of his experiment and flees the lab. With great innocence, he believes that simply denying what he's done, the problem will disappear by itself.
When Victor Frankenstein realizes the implications of what he has created, he rejects the results of his experiment and flees the lab. With great innocence, he believes that simply denying what he's done, the problem will disappear by itself.
Despite
having been written in the beginning of the industrial revolution, the novel is
a warning of conflicts that could lead to the development of science. In fact,
the rebellion of the creature against his creator (and their relatives) is a
clear message of the evils arising from the irresponsible use of technology and
the unintended consequences of its use.
The eagerness to achieve
goals in “Frankenstein”
"Frankenstein", the masterpiece of Mary Shelley, a mixture of
horror and science fiction, is an eloquent testimony that human ambition and imagination
have no limits.
Throughout the story set in eighteenth century Europe in scientific
effervescence, a physicist named Victor Frankenstein, who in search of the
secret of life and without considering the consequences that this will bring,
creates a new being with other parts of humans. The result is monstrous and
from here starts a confrontation carried to its extreme, the man against his
creator that will end with the tragic death of both.
As we see, Victor Frankenstein's attempts to give life to his creation
were very ambitious regardless of the
consequences.
The novel deals with ethical and moral parts
as well as making reference to what appears to be human cruelty. While at first
glance it may seem like a science fiction story or terror, the fact is that it
explores the moral and scientific issues, the creation and destruction of life,
and technology trying to compete with God, which demonstrate the audacity of
humanity in its relationship with him.
Main Characters:
Victor Frankenstein
He
is the main character of the novel and eventually finds himself trapped
by his own creation. A graduate of the University at Ingolstadt, Victor
finally discovers the “secret of life.” After years of studying modern
science and famous alchemist, Victor takes it upon himself to create
another being. Although hideous and grotesque, he succeeds in his
attempts and produces what we know as the “monster.” This horrifying
creature gives Victor feelings of guilt and regret throughout the novel
and Victor abandons him and keeps his invention a secret. Eventually his
creation kills those closest to him and Victor realizes he must kill
the thing he so desperately wanted to create.
Monster
Created through the use of old body parts and chemicals, this creature is abandoned by his maker and is left to discover the realistic aspects of the world. Void of any prior knowledge or education the monster learns language and attitude by watching a family through a hole. Although he starts off innocent and with the mind of a youth, he turns evil by watching society. His eight foot frame and hideous appearance makes it difficult for him to fit in, and as a result of neglect and horror of those around him he becomes an actual monster and kills many of those around him. After his creator refuses to create another “monster” to mend to lonely wounds society has placed upon him, the creature seeks revenge on Victor and those that he loves.
Elizabeth
She is the adopted cousin of the Frankenstein. With profound beauty and elegance, it is only natural that Victor asks for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately due to Victor’s refusal to make the monster a companion of his own species, the Monster seeks revenge on him. On their wedding night Victors comes home to find Elizabeth dead.
Justine
She is the motherly figure in the Frankenstein household. As Mrs. Frankenstein died Justine took over and replaced a figure crucial to every child’s life. She is accused of the death of William the youngest Frankenstein and although an innocent and trusted girl she is eventually convicted and executed. We find out later on that it was the monster who killed William and that Justine was framed.
De Lacy Family
This is the family in which he watches and learns language and the norms of society. Although this family is the base of his education, they are in part responsible for the feelings of loneliness and anger by the monster. When the monster finally reveals himself they did what any normal person would do in seeing an eight foot tall, detestable creature. After the monster realizes he is not accepted among society he seeks out another monster like himself. When Victor refuses to create another one, the monster looks for revenge.
Robert Walton
A captain of a ship, Walton picks up Victor along his journey as his ship is caught between ice. At his stand still, Victor is brought abroad. In horrible condition from chasing the monster, Victor begins to tell Walton of his deep secret. Robert (one of the three narrators) tells his story at the beginning and at the end and serves as a medium of the novel.
Henry
A close friend of Victor's, Henry is best known for his loyalty and compassion towards his friend.
William Frankenstein
The brother of Victor Frankenstein. A young and playful little boy, he is strangled and killed by the monster. Victor seeks revenge due to the death of his loved ones.
Monster
Created through the use of old body parts and chemicals, this creature is abandoned by his maker and is left to discover the realistic aspects of the world. Void of any prior knowledge or education the monster learns language and attitude by watching a family through a hole. Although he starts off innocent and with the mind of a youth, he turns evil by watching society. His eight foot frame and hideous appearance makes it difficult for him to fit in, and as a result of neglect and horror of those around him he becomes an actual monster and kills many of those around him. After his creator refuses to create another “monster” to mend to lonely wounds society has placed upon him, the creature seeks revenge on Victor and those that he loves.
Elizabeth
She is the adopted cousin of the Frankenstein. With profound beauty and elegance, it is only natural that Victor asks for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately due to Victor’s refusal to make the monster a companion of his own species, the Monster seeks revenge on him. On their wedding night Victors comes home to find Elizabeth dead.
Justine
She is the motherly figure in the Frankenstein household. As Mrs. Frankenstein died Justine took over and replaced a figure crucial to every child’s life. She is accused of the death of William the youngest Frankenstein and although an innocent and trusted girl she is eventually convicted and executed. We find out later on that it was the monster who killed William and that Justine was framed.
De Lacy Family
This is the family in which he watches and learns language and the norms of society. Although this family is the base of his education, they are in part responsible for the feelings of loneliness and anger by the monster. When the monster finally reveals himself they did what any normal person would do in seeing an eight foot tall, detestable creature. After the monster realizes he is not accepted among society he seeks out another monster like himself. When Victor refuses to create another one, the monster looks for revenge.
Robert Walton
A captain of a ship, Walton picks up Victor along his journey as his ship is caught between ice. At his stand still, Victor is brought abroad. In horrible condition from chasing the monster, Victor begins to tell Walton of his deep secret. Robert (one of the three narrators) tells his story at the beginning and at the end and serves as a medium of the novel.
Henry
A close friend of Victor's, Henry is best known for his loyalty and compassion towards his friend.
William Frankenstein
The brother of Victor Frankenstein. A young and playful little boy, he is strangled and killed by the monster. Victor seeks revenge due to the death of his loved ones.
Historical Context
Two important people who influenced Mary Shelley while she wrote Frankenstein were Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. This is where Shelley most likely learned about Romanticism, who's ideologies are present throughout the novel. Ideologies from the French Revolution are also apparent in Shelley's writing. Intellectuals in the Revolution believed that it is their responsibility to research and discover the unknown. That is the same stance Frankenstein takes when he is working on creating life. During Shelley's time period Darwin was working on his theory of biological evolution. When Mary Shelley came up with her idea for Frankenstein at Lord Byron's house, this was one of the topics that was previously discussed. She had also attended Andrew Crosse's lectures. Crosse was a British scientist who conducted experiments with electricity. Some of his experiments shared similar ideas to those of Frankenstein's when he is trying to create life. In the early 19th century, explorers also began looking for an arctic passage to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A Scottish explorer, John Ross, went on a mission to find a northwest passage in 1818. His trip is similar to Walton's attempt to find the North Pole. This is also related to the larger sense of discovery throughout society during the era Shelley was writing. Enlightenment thinking was also extremely important towards shaping Frankenstein . This period advocated the development of science and technology. In the novel, Frankenstein takes science a step farther than anyone else has ever gone in creating life. However, this could also reflect Shelley's opinion of technological development. She may have thought that if mankind became too advanced they could create something they couldn't control, such as the monster that Victor brings to life.
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