Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein

Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein

One question, which occurs to most whom have read the novel

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is, which path does the novel follow? Is

it that of the Classic Gothic, or of the Modern Gothic genre? Some

consider Frankenstein, the first true Modern Gothic novel. Others may

disagree; many people consider it a pure combination of Modern and

Classic Gothic elements. You may also point out that Frankenstein does

not depend entirely on the Gothic genre.

Mary Shelly’s upbringing was a struggle. Her mother (Mary

Wollstonecraft) died only eight days after her birth. Her father

ignored her after traveling Europe with Percy Shelly.

In 1815 Mary gave birth prematurely to a daughter who died soon after.

In 1816 she gave birth to a young boy, William. This was the same

year, which the book Frankenstein was born, and in it’s early stages.

Later that year one of Mary’ half sister committed suicide. Two

month’s later Percy Shelly’s wife (Harriet) drowned herself in the

serpentine, Hyde Park. Both Mary’s children died soon after the

publication of Frankenstein.

This may have influenced Mary Shelly’s plot in Frankenstein. She is so

traumatized by all the death around her, that she tries to imagine

what life would be like if resurrection was possible. If the dead

could be brought back to life then surly everything would life would

be perfect and there would be no fear of death. Then again without a

fear of death, life is meaningless. Everything you do in your life is

to satisfy or fulfill yourself in the next. “ In a well organized

mind, death is but the next adventure.” from Harry Potter & the

Philosophers Stone, describing the need for death in society. This is

reflected in the novel.

Classic Gothic is a straightforward method of frightening the reader.

Unlike modern, it's direct. The reader knows that there is a monster,

or ghost there. The character may not always be aware of this. Classic

Gothic usually contains the fright of monsters or things that

shouldn't be.

Frankenstein is not set in an old, dull spooky castle, like most

Classic Gothic novels, although you could say that it has something

quite close to this. Frankenstein's laboratory is a dark, gloomy, damp

old room. Most Gothic novels are likely to be set

around or in a castle. Nature is used a lot to create atmosphere. The

dreary, icy fields of the Alps indicate the isolation of the two main

characters. There is also a struggle between good and evil throughout

the story:

While my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom;