Book Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
For the spooky season, we dove into Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This was my first time with her work, and this book now became one of my favorites. Her storytelling is fantastic and the prose is magnetic. In this detailed book review of Frankenstein, I break down two major themes: death and creation.
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Summary:
A young scientist named Victor Frankenstein created an unorthodox entity that roams the earth, seeking revenge against his maker. The creature desires to coexist with humans. He wants to be loved because his creator abandoned him, but he is seen as nothing more than a hideous beast, which causes him to collapse into despair.
The creature’s fear of existing alone and unloved forces him to seek out Frankenstein and demand he build a woman whom he can love. But the doctor is hesitant because the creature is destructive. He commits heinous crimes against humanity; Frankenstein fears that two creatures will be the demise of the people. When Frankenstein refuses, the creature stalks him like the reaper and wreaks havoc on those dearest to his maker.
This is a story about creation and death. We follow both Victor Frankenstein and his creature, then learn how selfishness ripples to the innocent. We feel the guilt that goes along with living a life in lies. Frankenstein is a riveting story that is hard to put down and this book review expresses clearly why.
“Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.”
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
** Spoilers **
Structure & Theme:
Mary Shelley did an amazing job describing the world and creating characters that made this story both horrific and emotional. The horror settles into your bones because it’s not there for shock value but something deeper: despair, madness, and true evil. The tale begins with letters from an explorer sailing as a captain across the treacherous sea searching for a great purpose. As the days continue, his loneliness consumes him until a stranger comes aboard. The man is nursed by the captain, and soon decides to explain his story. This man is Victor Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley's prose is poetic and gripping from the start: it's beautiful, raw, and heartbreaking. As we jump into Victor Frankenstein’s backstory, we witness his life as an enthusiastic young scientist. A man whom engrosses himself into his work and surpasses the teachings of his masters; he becomes a recluse. He dives into madness and malnourishment but completes the creation that will soon cause chaos in his life. The set up and execution of this story will grip you from the start.
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The main themes in this book review of Frankenstein I want to focus on are death and creation.
Creation
Mary Shelley references a comparison that stirs inside the creature’s consciousness between himself and Adam from epic poem Paradise Lost. Victor Frankenstein is his creator, but unlike God, he is careless. This is apparent from the creatures appearance and upon his awakening, he is abandoned.
“Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from being of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless, and alone.”
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
The human's disgrace him far too many times and the creature loses hope of coexisting among them. Although he is tender and kind, his wickedness is far too vile to evade their prejudice. Experiencing such loneliness, the creature vows to continue his existence in rivalry against humans, and to inflict the pain he feels against his creator.
“No: from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery.”
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Death
The creature stumbles upon Frankenstein's family and close friends. The murderous beast takes out his revenge on those dearest to his creator, and soon Frankenstein is greeted by guilt and anxiety that throw him into a pit of madness. Ashamed of his mistake in creating the creature, he hides the truth from the world, but this ultimately is his blunder. Death lingers in the air around our protagonist because of his secrets.
“The night passed away, and the sun rose from the ocean; my feelings became calmer, if it may be called calmness, when the violence of rage sinks into the depths of despair.”
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
You could say, the creature is Frankenstein's sins personified, and because he runs away instead of facing them, they haunt him throughout his life. He never spoke of this secret until the final moments of his life. After the reveal, the captain uses it as a warning to his own ambitious expedition.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Book Review
Rating: ★★★★★
I loved Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I found myself moved by every element of the story. The characters were compelling, the descriptions were breathtaking, and the themes were poignant to human existence. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
Questions:
What was your reaction towards Victor Frankenstein keeping the creature a secret towards his family?
Did you notice any parallels between the captain and Victor Frankenstein?
Do you think that the creature could have coexisted with humans if he loved himself enough? If he wasn't so insecure would he have been able to express his kind and peaceful nature?
Was the creature a metaphor for human selfishness and unresolved guilt?
I hope you enjoyed my Frankenstein book review. Leave comments below and let me know your thoughts about this novel!
Thank you for reading with me!
