Use of Setting in Frankenstein

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A Different Method

In writing there are multiple ways to reveal information about the characters of a story. The most common way is through actions and conversation, but Mary Shelly also uses the setting of each scene to do this. By using this method the story seems more in depth and stays in the readers mind. Mary Shelly's detailed description of the scenery of story makes the story more memorable, helps the reader understand events, and assists to reveal the character's personalities.

First, to illustrate the events of the story a writer uses particularly well thought out and descriptive vocabulary. This is done to help the reader visualize the image in the author's mind. But in Mary Shelly's, "Frankenstein", she has gone far beyond this, she not only paints a picture in the mind of the reader, but the words written actually place them in a state of mind. A great example of this is when she wrote, "I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs." As a result of passages like this, "Frankenstein" has captivated it's readers for roughly two centuries. In addition it has not only taken hold of the literary minds of the world, the story has also found itself on to the big screen. Mary Shelly's crowning achievement has inspired about fifty movies. Unfortunately, a vast quantity of the motion picture created does not follow the theme of the original story. They branched out from it and portrayed the creation as an inarticulate, rampaging monster when initially he was a confused and vengeful genius. What ever the form "Frankenstein has taken root in our society and its here to stay.

Second, the authors use of setting and weather helps to realize why the creation has preformed the horrid actions he has. For example, when Victor Frankenstein, the creator, returns to the scene of his younger brother's murder he sees his creation for the first time since he had deserted him. Instead of simply writing this, which would have most likely sufficed, she also describes the weather by including this: "While I watched the tempest, so beautiful yet terrific, I wandered on with a hasty step." By writing this scene Mary Shelly draws the reader to believe that the creation is the murderer.

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