Happy
Halloween Readers,
Today
we start off my Halloween Spooktacular with the wonderfully classic monster
that is Frankenstein. The creepy theme this week is monsters.
Even
two hundred years after its first publication in January 1818, Frankenstein
still fascinates an audience as it still speaks about the myth of life and has
never been out of print. Mary was just 18 when she had the idea for
Frankenstein; 19 when she finished writing the book.
Unlike
her slightly younger contemporaries like the Brontës sisters, Mary didn’t enjoy
the freedoms of starting her writing life under a masculine pseudonym. Mary was already notorious in literary circles because of her relationship with
Percy. Mary was forced to feel inferior by the double standards stacked against
her, her own failure to achieve all a man could as she was not only read as a
writer but judged for being a woman.
There
are still people who will argue whether Mary actually wrote Frankenstein the
joys of being a woman writer in the 1800’s.
On its first, appearance the book was anonymous and reviewers surmised
that this novel was written by someone close to Godwin and Percy, his
son-in-law, was credited as the author. The tales have inspired countless
adaptations and loosely related works in film, theatre and television. Take a
look at the Mary Shelley film starring Elle Fanning, Ben Hardy and Douglas
Booth to get an understanding and insight into Mary's life. The story has an
influence across literature and spawned a complete genre of horror stories and
films.
Book review
The
Modern Prometheus, also known as Frankenstein was published 200 years ago this
year. The title of the novel refers to the scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who
learns how to create life and creates a being in the likeness of man, but
larger than average and more powerful. The creator is scared of his own
creation and unable to take responsibility for it the creature initially shows
no signs of being a monster and only becomes one when abandoned by his creator.
Most people have tended to refer to the Creature as "Frankenstein",
despite this being the name of the scientist.
After
fleeing from his laboratory Victor when the creatures showed sign of life he
returns to find the creature gone. This gives Victor a nervous breakdown.
Victor returns to his family’s home in Geneva. He sees his creature climbing a
mountain nearby. Victor learns his brother, William, has recently been
murdered. Justine is accused of the crime. but he is unable to prove Justine’s
innocence or prevent her hanging. The grieving Victor runs away to the
mountains.
His
creature finds him and explains he quickly discovered that humans are terrified
of him. He found refuge in a hovel next
to a cottage after leaving Frankenstein’s house and, from his hideout,
eavesdropped on the family of poor cottagers, the De Laceys and learned how to
speak and act over the months he spent observing them.
The
creature Begs Victor to create a woman like him so he will no longer be alone.
He promises that once she is created he will vanish forever. Victor reluctantly
agrees and goes to do his work on a remote island in Scotland. Victor starts making the female creature
under his creature’s watchful gaze but soon victor imagines what might happen
if the creatures produce offspring. He finally destroys the female, and the
enraged monster vows he will be with Victor on his wedding night.
I
love how Frankenstein questions Who is really the monster? The monster that was
created or the man who created him? Characters do not have to be likeable or
appealing to be interesting, but then in this tale, they are not meant to be
nice and fluffy. The constant power play
between the creature and Victor is wonderfully complex and developed “You are
my creator, but I am your master; obey!” the monster tells Victor.
Adaptations of Frankenstein
N The Rocky Horror Picture Show
N Victor
Frankenstein
N I, Frankenstein
N Van Helsing
N Frankenweenie
N Edward Scissorhands
N American Horror
Story: Coven
Happy Halloween Lx
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