Mary Shelley´s Frankenstein, an Example of Gothic Romance

Mary Shelley’s world renowned book, “Frankenstein”, is a narrative of how Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant chemist, succeeds in creating a living being. Although Frankenstein’s creation is benevolent to begin with, he soon turns murderous after being mistreated by humans. His anger turns towards Frankenstein, as he was the one who brought him into the world that shuns him. The Monster then spends the rest of the story trying to make his creator’s life as miserable as his own. This novel is an excellent example of the Gothic Romantic style of literature, as it features some core Gothic Romantic elements such as remote and desolate settings, a metonymy of gloom and horror, and women in distress.

The novel “Frankenstein” is almost entirely set in remote and desolate locations. The book starts with Captain Walton meeting Victor Frankenstein in the Arctic Circle, where Frankenstein narrates the strange tale of how he got to where he was. His story includes his boyhood in remote and mountainous Geneva; his secluded studies at the University of Ingolstadt, where he creates the monster; Mont Blanc, where he first speaks to his creation; and the bleak Orkney Island, where he destroys the partner he was making for his original creation. Throughout the novel Victor seems isolated, Even when he is at the busy University of Ingolstadt, the setting still has a remote feel to it. Frankenstein becomes so focused on his work to create life that he shuts himself off from the world for months, without even giving himself time to appreciate nature or contact loved ones, as we can see when Victor Frankenstein imparts, “The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit. It was a most beautiful season; never did the fie...

... middle of paper ...

... distress: she loses her mother, brother, and friend Justine and is separated from Victor for several years while he delves into the more arcane side of science. Finally she is killed by Victor’s creation at the climax of the story. Elizabeth’s death symbolizes the monster’s crushing blow to his creator’s spirit. Mary Shelley uses the Damsel in distress theme to show how Victor’s meddling with the natural order had negative effects, not just on himself but also on his loved ones.

The literary elements of remote and desolate settings, a metonymy of gloom and horror, and women in distress, clearly show “Frankenstein” to be a Gothic Romantic work. Mary Shelley used this writing style to effectively allow the reader to feel Victor Frankenstein’s regret and wretchedness. In writing “Frankenstein” Mary Shelley wrote one the most popular Gothic Romantic novels of all time.