Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Horror Library)

Rating:
Summary: Romantic delight
Review: Rereading this work one wonders is it silly or not, and if it is not silly, why couldn't Mary Shelley have repeated her achievement. She lived a long life, enjoying fame as Shelley's widow.

The work is seemingly as marvellous as ever. The wild story is perfectly balanced by the writing done in the classical style of the times. Frankenstein is, of course, a variant of the Prometheus myth. Both Byron and Shelley were working on the myth in their poetic careers when this novel was composed, rather as a lark.

Mary Shelley describes Scotland and Switzerland, places of particular and significant happiness to her. Victor Frankenstein discovers he has the power of bestowing animation. He beholds the monster he created on a day in November.

Victor learns from his father of the death of his younger brother William. Returning to his father's house, he discovers that a girl, Justine Moritz, is suspected of having committed the murderous deed. Victor puts forth the claim that Justine is innocent. Poor Justine is convicted and seeking absolution at the point of her execution, she makes a false confession. Victor feels that he is really the murderer. His visage shows despair, subject to detection by his cousin Elizabeth.

Victor finds the demon at Mount Blanc. The monster reminds him that he is his creation. The monster recounts to Victor his adventures in voyeurism. He surreptitiously assisted the cottagers upon whom he spied. He gathered wood for them. From them he became aware of language and began to note their poverty. The monster educated himself by means of the works of Goethe, Plutarch and Milton. By showing himself, the monster caused the family to depart.

He wants Victor to produce a female. Victor fears the disappointed fiend, but finds he cannot overcome his repugnance to make a mate for the creature. He is also faced with the duty and desire to wed his cousin, but he is conscious of the threat of death to his bride should he wed. Victor undergoes the death of his friend Clerval and imprisonment in Ireland. His fiendish adversary pursues him to the end. The finale is operatic. The doubling effect throughout the novel is masterly.

Rating:
Summary: The Original Version of the Classic
Review: The original version of Frankenstein (or, The Modern Prometheus) was published anonymously in 1818. However, the version of Frankenstein that most people have read is the 1831 edition, which has significant changes from the original 1818 text. This book gives the readers a chance to experience the original text, which is less refined and a bit darker then the revised text. It also provides a wonderful introduction and notes discussing Mary Shelley's life, the context in which this story was written, and the differences between the original text and the 1831 edition. These notes and introduction are by Marilyn Butler, who was a Professor of English Literature at Cambridge.

The story is well known, although certainly the book is nothing like most of the movies that use its name. While clearly one can find many issues from Mary Shelley's life and times that are addressed in this book, what makes it stand the test of time is how it can be made to relate to modern day issues as well. One theme, science creates a "monster" which it cannot control and which ultimately destroys the lives of those that created it, can be found today in areas such as genetics, nuclear physics, etc., and will undoubtedly be with us in the future as well. Other themes from the story carry forward from 1818 to today as well, which undoubtedly why this story is a classic and will always endure.

Rating:
Summary: "cursed, cursed creator."
Review: Victor grew up reading the works of Paracelsus, Agrippa, and Albertus Magnus, the alchemists of the time. Toss in a little natural philosophy (sciences) and you have the making of a monster. Or at least a being that after being spurned for looking ugly becomes ugly. So for revenge the creature decides unless Victor makes another (female this time) creature, that Victor will also suffer the loss of friends and relatives. What is victor to do? Bow to the wishes and needs of his creation? Or challenge it to the death? What would you do?
Although the concept of the monster is good, and the conflicts of the story well thought out, Shelly suffers from the writing style of the time. Many people do not finish the book as the language is stilted and verbose for example when was the last time you said, "Little did I then expect the calamity that was in a few moments to overwhelm me and extinguish in horror and despair all fear of ignominy of death."
Much of the book seems like travel log filler. More time describing the surroundings of Europe than the reason for traveling or just traveling. Many writers use traveling to reflect time passing or the character growing in stature or knowledge. In this story they just travel a lot.
This book is definitely worth plodding through for moviegoers. The record needs to be set strait. First shock is that the creator is named Victor Frankenstein; the creature is just "monster" not Frankenstein. And it is Victor that is backwards which added in him doing the impossible by not knowing any better. The monster is well read in "Sorrows of a Young Werther," "Paradise Lost," and Plutarch's "Lives." The debate (mixed with a few murders) rages on as to whether the monster was doing evil because of his nature or because he was spurned?