Genre: Fiction/ Classic/ British Lit
First of all, has it really been that long since I posted anything? August? Wow! I will hopefully change that starting now. Anyway...
Victor Frankenstein gets more than he bargained for when his interest in science becomes an obsession with the creation of life. One dreary November night, after many sleepless days, Frankenstein finally sparks being into his creature- an act he soon regrets. So terrified by the colossal monster he had created, Frankenstein fleas his apartment. When he returns later, the beast is gone, presumably never to be seen again. That, however, is not the case. Two years later in the woods surrounding his home town, Dr. Frankenstein again encounters the being he had given life to. The monster has his own story to tell of the sorrow he felt at the disdain he received from a family he had only wanted to help. The rejection he faced transformed the creature from a naïve, caring individual into a hardened, malicious brute. Now the monster asks only one thing from the man who breathed animation into him. He demands Frankenstein create a female creature to keep him company insisting this would satisfy him and the two beings would disappear to some far off land, never to interact with humans again. However, if the doctor refuses the monsters demands, there will be blood...Ok, so to be fair, I should probably mention that this book was a language arts III honors assignment given over the two week winter break, it was my only homework over break. By the time I actually started it I had one week to read it. That said, I can't say this was one of my favorite books. I thought the story was pretty slow. A lot of the book was Frankenstein being depressed about how guilty he feels for creating such a hideous, bloodthirsty monster. I personally didn't feel too bad for him, especially once the monster explains that he doesn't want to hurt anybody. Frankenstein sort of paints an unrealistic image of his creation in his mind and refuses to be convinced of anything different. A large part of this book seems to be about humanity and morality. The monster is revealed as a very human being who only seeks affection and acceptance. However, he is deprived of both because of his frightening appearance. It embodies an important lesson, especially in today's society, about judging people before you know what they've been through. It also raises the issue of ethics in science. Is it right to create an unnatural life form? Once it has been created, is it acceptable to extinguish it simply because the creator changes his mind?
Many descriptions of the book refer to it as "one of the greatest horror stories ever written," or something to that effect. While it is undeniably a horror story, by today's standards the plot is rather mild, particularly in light of the many movies based off this classic book. The book was originally written in 1818, and it was probably more extreme by the standards of that time. Most movies seem to portray the story as much more action-filled and violent. In the book most of the deaths occur towards the end and the deaths themselves are not described in great detail (not that I'm really complaining, not being a big fan of shock-value, myself). Instead Frankenstein mostly muses over his guilt about creating the monster that murders his innocent loved ones. Again, the book focuses more on psychological issues, than straight action.
So overall, if you are looking for a deep, thought-provoking novel, this may be a good choice. However, if you are looking for a book that will make you want to keep the lights on, consider a different option. Of course, that's just my opinion, some readers might find it more thrilling than I did. If you are a fan of gothic literature, this one's a good pick.
Rating: 3/5
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