Every time while picking up a classic, there is a sliver of dread within every reader regarding the completion of the work. More often than not the book is abandoned halfway or is waded through with the sheer will and determination of the readers. The same was the case with me when I first picked it up. I wanted to read the book Frankenstein yet I was filled with self-doubts and denials, but the wonderful storytelling by Mary Shelley with a dash of philosophical thoughts replenished the dread with an unending excitement. Here is a book review discussing the same.
Book Details:
- Book – Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus
- Author – Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley nee Godwin
- Publishing year – 1818
- My Rating – 5/5 stars
- Genre – Gothic Fiction, Science Fiction
- Click here to purchase the book
What is the book all about?
Before I begin my book review, here is a sneak peek into the story.
Frankenstein is an epistolary novel by Mary Shelley. It has been portrayed to the readers through the letters sent by Captain Walton to his sister describing in detail the circumstances that he had to face in his journey towards the end of the North Pole. It is an absurd journey but it plays a vital role in the story as it is the same ship that saves Victor Frankenstein from freezing to death in the ocean, and thus begins a series of letters with breaks in between to explain to us the personal journey of Victor Frankenstein.
Victor Frankenstein is a sickly man, scared to recall his journey yet somehow very specific in the details he gives out to our conveyor, Captain Walton. He begins with details regarding his family background; moves on to describe his keen interest in the sciences of the world. One such endeavor into the bookshelf introduced him to Cornelius Agrippa, a sixteenth-century scholar of the occult sciences. He was so fascinated by the theories given by him that he began to explore more related to that, even though his theories were proved nonsensical by the contemporary professors. His deep fascination only led him to seclusion and dropping out of college to bring life and soul back to dead bodies. And thus begins his journey of creation.
The trouble begins when the creator himself is revolted by the creation, even before trying to understand or help the creature. He bolts away as soon as life seeps into the non- proportioned and united body parts. The creature, however, is unaware of his detestable built and monstrosity. Through the journey described by the author with Monster’s point of view, we realize the intensity of emotions he was capable of feeling. He was not different than a human in the soul, but only in build, he failed to inspire love. His journey breaks apart the heart of the reader and makes us see how a human being can be turned into the kind of monster we fear today.
The monster that has been called and miscalled Frankenstein by so many generations of filmmakers is actually just the creation; the title refers to our very own Victor Frankenstein. The book is actually his personal journey and dilemmas explained and analyzed. He is a tragic hero in this story.
How it actually begun?
Mary Shelley began writing this novel only when she was 18 years old, and this book was published in 1818. The idea of writing a horror story was what led to the creation of this classic. Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron were once discussing the creation of horror stories as a friendly competition, and they decided each write a horror story. Mary Shelley was gripped by the idea of creating a horror story and thus her dreams were plagued by this story of Frankenstein’s monster. She immediately began working on this idea, and that’s how we got our present-day Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. The story of the creation of the story is discussed in detail in The Preface of the book.
Writing Style:
The writing style of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is exceptional and eerie at the same time. The details that she has added to the story bring out the gothic elements of the settings and make the reader more aware of their surroundings. Her non-explanation regarding the creation of the monster retains the curiosity of the readers as well as prevents the story to slip into absurdity and anecdotes because all of us are aware that it is an impossible feat that has been discussed in the story.
Book Review, Themes, Thoughts, and Plot:
The novel brings out the theme of the fear of excessive knowledge. It shows how things might turn if we try to mess with the natural courses of life. The creation of human life brings down the whole existence of Victor Frankenstein, and along with him suffers the creature that he created. Despite being of the monstrous shape and size, that eight-foot being was in manners more than one much more compassionate and human than our protagonist. The grotesque appearance of the creature and the humble heart it had contrasted and pointed out to us the absurdity of human appearances.
In this novel, Shelley has observed so many relevant themes at once that it becomes almost a philosophical journey for a reader. The descriptions are very detailed and the tales within tales keep the readers hooked and interested in the story. It is a well-paced book with no sense of laziness in the story. The death and horrors that the creature conducts are briefly explained and fail to arouse the emotions of dread and fear in the readers. The Gothic description of the surrounding, however, fulfills the emotions that were not there.
Conclusion to the book review:
Overall, this book is an intense yet fast-paced read. If you want to indulge in a classic and yet want to avoid the leisurely pace of the story, then this one is for you. I will recommend this book for those readers who want to explore some gothic fiction, or books with scientific elements in them, or a character that is highly indulgent in his chase for passions. Do tell your thoughts regarding this book as well as this review.
Till then, happy reading.