Wish Fulfillment in Mary Shelly's Gothic Novel, Frankenstein

The obsessed search for knowledge, fame and fortune can often undervalue one’s life and become the main focus of their existence. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she proves that obsession is a dangerous aspect of the human behavior, which always results in a negative outcome, this is mainly portrayed through the protagonist of the story Dr. Victor Frankenstein, because of Dr. Frankenstein’s obsessive personality he fails to recognize the affects of his scientific experiments which eventually lead to his and his family’s death.

Unfulfilled Desire Unfulfilled desire is a predominant theme that arises throughout Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, and John Milton’s, Paradise Lost. Starting off with Walton’s letters, it is clear that Walton is damaged psychologically. He commenced on this journey to “a part of the world never visited,” because of a burning desire to believe that he achieved something important in his life (52). During this journey, Walton realized he was situated on a ship occupied by men who he didn’t like, and didn’t like him; and that for a long time he craved a true friend with more experience than him. Yet Walton suffered the neglect of human love and affection.

In an influential event in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a young servant, Justine, of the Frankenstein family is on trial for the death of the youngest son, William Frankenstein. She claims to not have murdered this young boy, for she cares for him greatly as if he is her own on the account of the cousin of the Frankenstein’s, Elizabeth. The Frankenstein family is attending Justine’s trial and Victor Frankenstein believes that Justine is innocent. Also, that it is the monster that he is creating who kills his youngest brother. Victor recounts as Justine enters the court room, “For all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise excited was obliterated in the minds of the spectators by the imagination of the enormity she was supposed to have committed” (54). Even though Justine is not guilty of this crime, the jury’s “imagination” is getting the better of them, instead of staying objective and looking at the facts and noticing Justine’s innocence. It can be seen in Justine’s appearance that she embodies innocence when it states “the kindness which her beauty might otherwise excited”, and before this trial it is seen by others as well. The jury is not using their “minds” to observe the evidence, which is the picture of the mother of the Frankenstein family, that is on Justine when is belongs to William. When Justine is giving her defense she states, “I rest my innocence on the plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me” (55). Justine understands that her “innocence” will be known though “the plain and simple facts” that is not to be diluted by the “imagination”. Justine then realizes that the “simple facts” or the truth of her innocence will not overcome the jury’s already overactive “imagination” ...

“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.

Reader's Sympathies in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein "Frankenstein" a gothic horror, written by Mary Shelley in 1818, can be interpreted as a subtle autobiography; whose narrative reflects on the characters throughout the story. It was written at the time where the Romantic period replaced the age of reason, the time where dreams and ideas replaced logic and science. The two main characters in the story, Victor and the monster are used as metaphors for this. Shelley uses them to make social and personal comments about the time when the book was written. Shelly's mother died only nine days after her birth.

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is one of the most timeless classics we have in literature today. Being a young person, I am very appreciative of older works that are still able to captivate me. When I read this story, it resonated with me in several different ways, as I have always been interested stories having to do with the creation and/or augmentation of life through artificial means. Along with being intriguing, such stories are not far from reality. In the present, people see Mary’s story as a modern legend. This term however can be interpreted in a couple of different ways. The first thing I thought of was how people can perceive the story to be a fable today, and secondly, can we view Frankenstein as a myth during the time when Mary Shelley was alive. I aim to explore the first option after establishing the definition of a “modern legend”, which is “a fiction myth that relates to current events”. Frankenstein is most definitely a modern legend, exploring many different scientific developments that at the time were seen as nothing more than ridiculous fiction. Today these ideas are much more believable, and even close to being possible. The reality of Mary Shelly's story is in fact more realistic today, making it a myth in the sense that we are unsure if it could really happen.

Shelly’s ‘’Frankenstein’’ is regarded as the first modern horror novel. It is in fact, a Gothic horror. The story came about mainly from a dream shelly had. The dream was heavily influenced by her background and past personal experiences. These include her visits to galvanism experiments, a visit to the Rock of Franks; a castle which translated gives ‘’Frankenstein’’ and her surroundings at the time, which where the Alps that made up the setting for some of the book.

Nearly all actions stereotypically considered unethical result from a vicious cycle. The perpetuation of violence and abuse stem from a person’s previous observations and contact with others. These occurrences shape one’s identity above all else. In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley portrays the relationship between past experiences and present choices by illustrating the effects of rejection and isolation during the creature’s early life on his future decisions.

Well known novelist and writer, Mary Shelley, in her novel, Frankenstein, uses tone, imagery, theme in a very influential way. She puts these writing tools in strategic spots to help the reader visualize and connect to the story better. Keeping these tools in mind, we will analyze the passage where Victor brought life into his creation, changing his life forever.

Light got a somewhat malicious idea and squeaked “What if you trained against that thing?” she said this then fitted herself in Sam’s free hand and flashed into a short sword shaped like a key. The expression on the creature’s face clearly read it wasn’t too amused. In a swift movement by the creature it stood back on its hands and kicked Sam square in the chest, completely knocking the air from his lungs. Before he had time to react the creature jumped on top of him and pried Darkness and Light from his hands, and sent them clattering across the ground. The creature was still too fast for him to keep up with and he soon found himself being dragged by his arm with its