Shelley's versus Whales' Frankenstein

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Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein and James Whales version of her book differ in many

ways. The most important difference is Whales making the monster less human. He

made him a deaf mute and violent. He came across as almost sub-human and barely

capable of anything but following basic orders, grunting and shouting. While Shelly’s

novel the monster constantly wanted to communicate with people but was unable to do so

due to his appearance. He simply scared people. This resulted into isolation and the fuel

behind his anger, hatred and crimes.

Another change would be the monsters meanness and/or evilness. In Shelly’s novel he

doesn’t appear to be mean or cause harm to anyone, but people assume differently. He

even explains by saying, “I made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be

virtuous”. (O’Finn) In the movie version, Whales completely eliminates this scene and

goes into a different direction by having Fritz steel a brain from the local university.

Frankenstein considered “the imperfect brain” would lead to violence and criminal

activity. That is why he desired “the perfect brain” So that is why he sends Felix to the

local university to steal “the perfect brain”. But instead, he takes the brain of a criminal.

The criminal brain is considered “abnormal” and to be “the imperfect brain”. He felt that

if you removed the brain form the body that all the tendencies would remain. This did

rain true in this case because the monster was eventually killed in the end by a lynch

mob.

There were a few other differences; that Victor is now Henry in the movie. Elizabeth

was no longer referred to as a “cousin”. She was now referred to as his fiancée which

eliminated any reference to incest. The endless arctic chase was eliminated, the

friendship with the old blind man at the De Lacey cottage and the monsters desire for a

mate. Also, in the movie Whales showed the monster had a sense of kindness toward a

little girl. Whales showed the interaction with the creature with Maria and simplest form

of kindness was viewed. The child did not judge the monster on his appearance or is

inabilities, but simply being kind to another individual.

Another difference would be the way that Victor is betrayed.

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