Background
Published in 1818, “Frankenstein,” written by Mary Shelley tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist driven by his obsession with creating life. Experimenting with galvanism and chemistry, he successfully animates a creature from lifeless body parts. However, horrified by his creation’s grotesque appearance, Victor abandons the being, setting in motion a tragic series of events. The creature, rejected by society and desperate for acceptance, becomes increasingly isolated and vengeful, ultimately leading to a confrontation between creator and creation that explores themes of scientific ethics, the consequences of unchecked ambition, and the complexities of human identity and empathy. The novel raises profound questions about the limits of human knowledge and the responsibilities that come with wielding such power.
My Thoughts
This is one of those books you need to spend some time reading. Not only is it over 200 years old, and the language is beginning to drift, but it is so much different than the expectations given to us by Hollywood and Halloween.
The “creature” is grotesque, inhumanly fast, and extremely articulate. Somehow it was able to acquire complex emotions, drives, and the ability to describe them in a detail a professional psychologist would envy all while keeping far distant from any human. And all it wanted was a female like himself…
Recommendation
Required reading