Introduction
Written more than two centuries ago, Frankenstein still speaks to cultural, political, and technological anxieties in the contemporary world. The novel by Mary Shelley, has been adapted into several films. It follows the life of an obsessed scientist who had little care for the ethical or social implications of his work. The complex story bears elements of the Enlightenment period, Romanticism, feminism, as well as other movements over history. Its complexity has raised questions over its real author since critics hold that Shelley was too young to create such a sophisticated story by the time the story was published (Sampson, 2018). This paper seeks to discuss some elements of the book.
The book is mostly a clash between Enlightenment and Romanticism. Other than living during the Enlightenment era, Mary’s father was an Enlightenment philosopher. It is, therefore, no surprise that Frankenstein bears various characteristics seen during the period. Enlightenment philosophers have often been depicted as individualistic and self-centered. They were also pre-occupied with knowing the origins of various phenomena such as language, society, and humanity. Such is Frankenstein’s behavior. He arrogantly seeks to push the boundaries of humanity in his pursuit of knowledge. The philosophers in this era also believed in finding the meaning of every phenomenon encountered. Shelley uses The Creature to show that there was a need to distinguish acceptable and unacceptable knowledge regarding nature. The influence of other Enlightenment thinkers is also visible in the book. For instance, in accordance with Locke’s theory, the Creature is created empty-minded and must be educated through various experiences (Eddy, 2018). With time, the Creature acquires emotions such as regret and empathy. As seen, the author did not only seek to address the wrongs in the era, but was also influenced by different beliefs held at the time.
Various elements of Romanticism are also used in the book to achieve various purposes. In contrast to the Enlightenment era, where knowledge, science, and reason were the emphasis, Romanticism focused on love, feelings, and imagination. By greatly depending on imagination and innovation, Victor Frankenstein embodies Romantic ideals. To heighten the drama, the author uses vivid imagery of nature, an element of Romanticism. Nature also mirrors the feelings of the characters throughout the book. For instance, ice is used to represent the loneliness of the Creature. Victor’s thoughts and feelings are also reflected in weather conditions (Hogle, 2018). Therefore, Frankenstein comes across as a great Romantic novel.
The Industrial Revolution was going on when Frankenstein was written. While this period was monumental in human history, it was criticized by various thinkers and artists. Shelley’s skepticism can be seen in the book. As mentioned, the beauty and power of nature is a central theme in the book. To a large extent, Shelley felt that technological advancements would hurt both man and nature. To this end, she uses Victor and the Creature to warn of the possible effects of reckless progress (Dougherty, 2018). Victor depicts the various ways in which science was being used to push boundaries during the period. The anonymity and mystery surrounding the Creature present the doubts that the author had regarding the future of the world in a technologically changing period.
Since Shelley’s mother was a feminist, it would be expected that the female characters in Frankenstein would be strong and abrasive. However, they are depicted as passive and disposable. Justine best proves this sentiment. Even when falsely accused, she remains passive. However, female characters in the book severally serve different utilitarian functions. For instance, the Creature learns the first lessons from Agatha and Safie. Elizabeth is presented as the gentle and submissive fiancé and becomes a victim of the power games between Victor and the Creature. Therefore, Shelley presents women as abused, objectified, and easily disposable beings (Neill, 2018). Notably, it is only Margaret who survives the novel. While she might seem to be contradicting the ideals held by her mother, she uses the book to show that women can use their gentleness to tame the monstrous and patriarchal society.
Frankenstein is mostly an exploration of elements that make one human. Though not born as humans usually are, the Creature shares several aspects with man. For instance, just like a child, his mind was unformed upon creation and hence had to learn through experiences (Manthur & Nur, 2018). However, there are certain traits, such as empathy, that are inherent in human beings. The Creature lacks these elements, and hence cannot be said to be human. Though it might superficially look as if the story does not have a hero, a more in-depth analysis gives this position to the Creature. He is a monster because his creator neglected him. The judgemental society also forced him to do monstrous things. For these reasons, he was forced to be a monster and hence is the hero.
Conclusion
As shown in the paper, Shelley used the book to explore the various elements that make one human. She employs elements of Enlightenment and Romanticism to bring out her themes. The fear and skepticism that characterized the Industrial Revolution are also present in the book. Brilliant characterization, with women mainly appearing as submissive and passive beings, helps knit a complex story that depicts the monster as being more human than Frankenstein.
