Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Employs Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition

The novel Frankenstein is a one of the first Gothic novels that entails both gothic and romantic elements in its plot. The novel explains how Victor creates Frankenstein, the process by which he collects body parts and how life is given to Frankenstein. Its plot is in old scary European buildings and is filled with war between good and evil. It also shows how the characters are able to connect both the mortal and supernatural world. This novel is about the war between good and evil that will eventually get to have Frankenstein on their side (Donawerth). On the other hand, the novel on Jane Eyre is a gothic novel that takes place in Europe. It is filled with old buildings and shows how a young orphaned Jane Eyre is neglected by her adopted family especially after her adopted father dies. She undergoes through periods of success and hurting in her life until she meets a man by the name Edward who later breaks her heart. This leads her to the quest of finding her spirituality (Adams). This novel shows how one gets to know their spirituality and how it leads to their strengths and succe...

The novel Frankenstein is also considered the modern Prometheus. This novel got this title because of the story line that is followed. This story line is similar in many aspects as the myth of Prometheus. Shelley’s writing is evident in the romantic period as this novel falls into the gothic novel category. The revolution in America and France helped develop a culture of fear which then would be represented in gothic literature. This new category of novel was popular therefore, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein to display the evolution of science in that time. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley there are many themes and literary devices that are evident. One main literary device is “framing” which sets up a major ground of the

“I do know that for the sympathy of one lives being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely think and rage the likes of which you would not suppose. If I cannot sate the one, I will indulge the other.” (Shelley) Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein which features many gothic elements. Some of the gothic elements in Frankenstein include dark setting and supernatural, but it sometimes gets confused with romantic literature. Shelley also had gothic element in her life. Frankenstein is the most recognizable moving piece to have ever been created.

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 period during which Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein there were many scientific developments in the world, that contributed to the gothic genre of her novel as well as the author’s personal experiences. The main scientific development that possibly may have inspired the author to produce a gothic novel is similar to Luigi Galvani’s experiment, during which Galvani observed the relationship between electricity and life. In chapter four, Shelley has mentioned the scientific improvement that occurred during the 19th century: “when I considered the improvement which every day takes place in science and mechanics”.

After learning about the life of Mary Shelley, I have grown to appreciate the novel, Frankenstein, even more since the first time I read it. She led a life nearly, as tragic as the monster she created through her writing. Mary seems to pull some of her own life experiences in Victor’s background, as in both mothers died during or after childbirth. Learning about Mary’s personal losses, I have gained a better appreciation of her as an author and a woman of the 17th century. She had association with some the most influential minds of that

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.

Monsters are often present in gothic novels; especially in those that combine horror and romance. A monster will be the cause of individual characters fears. Frankenstein can be linked to this genre in many ways, the most obvious link being the horror element of the story. The thought of someone created from dead flesh would have been a horrific thought back then and still would be now, also Victor playing god would have been considered terrible back then “A new species would bless me as its creator” the 1800’s were still very religious times and trying to create life artificially would have been condemned by religious people.

To what extent is Frankenstein typical of gothic literature? In you answer make close references to its context and Mary Shelly's use of language. This essay will assess how typical of the gothic genre writings is Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein". The novel was written at a time when electricity was first discovered and Galvanism was being explored, mainly for medical reasons. People at this time were ignorant and sceptical of medicine and so most people would have been disgusted by these studies.

Many people know that Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was part of a family of famed Romantic era writers. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was one of the first leaders of the feminist movement, her father, William Godwin, was a famous social philosopher, and her husband, Percy Shelley, was one of the leading Romantic poets of the time ("Frankenstein: Mary Shelley Biography."). What most people do not know, however, is that Mary Shelley dealt with issues of abandonment her whole life and fear of giving birth (Duncan, Greg. "Frankenstein: The Historical Context."). When she wrote Frankenstein, she revealed her hidden fears and desires through the story of Victor Frankenstein’s creation, putting him symbolically in her place (Murfin, Ross. "Psychoanalytic Criticism and Frankenstein.”). Her purpose, though possibly unconsciously, in writing the novel was to resolve both her feelings of abandonment by her parents, and fears of her own childbirth.