Mary Shelley set out to write a ghost story in 1818, but what she produced is one of the most famous gothic novels in English Literature, ‘Frankenstein’. Shelley read several literary classics with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and these influenced her novel. She references these works in the novel, such as Ovid's Metamorphoses … Read more
If evil is to be defined as ‘profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force’, this question is a complex one in three of the texts I have chosen to study. The antagonists in ‘The Shining’, ‘Frankenstein’, and ‘Paradise Lost – Books I & II’ both demonstrate varying degrees of moral ambiguity; … Read more
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” first published in 1818, is a landmark work in the Gothic and Romantic literary traditions. It presents a complex narrative structure and rich thematic content, exploring profound questions about human nature, creation, and responsibility. This essay delves into the subjectivity of characters in “Frankenstein,” examining how their personal perspectives shape the narrative … Read more
The motif of doubles is a central feature of Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic Victorian novel Frankenstein as well as Arundhati Roy’s 1997 postcolonial Indian novel The God of Small Things. Doubling is used in the characterisation of Victor Frankenstein and his monster in Frankenstein, and of the twins Estha and Rahel in The God of … Read more
Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, contradicts ideas of monsters that we have imagined, such as monsters show or feel no emotion except for anger and the stereotypical idea that monsters are bad regardless of how they are inside and out. Frankenstein’s creature fits the description many would picture a monster with, “His yellow skin scarcely covered … Read more
Frankenstein’s creature made first appearance in chapter 5. It was described by Victor Frankenstein sarcastically as “Beautiful! Great God!” (p68). The use of exclamation and “God” could indicate how wrong Frankenstein feels to describe the creature as “beautiful”. The exclamation exaggerates his thoughts and also gives the reader a sense of wrongness in using the … Read more
Frankenstein Lit Circle #2 As the plot unfolds, we start to get more information about the monster. Does he have more than one mental function and how do they build him as a monster? Does his mental functions help him with individuation when he enters the wilderness? The monster starts off with the mental function … Read more
Frankenstein (1818) is a tale of a man with a colossal ambition who in the pursuit of elixir of life “bestows animation upon lifeless matter” (Shelley 34) only to create a wretched monster that he ends up abandoning; it is a tale of creation and abandonment. However, it cannot be reduced to be understood as … Read more
Shelley uses imagery relating to your senses to describes the creature’s awakening. Shelley compares this awakening to a baby who was just born. “A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time…”(Shelley 90), this quote means that the monster just experienced the all the new senses. … Read more
Angela Carter’s, ‘The Bloody Chamber’ and Mary Shelley’s, ‘Frankenstein’, both challenge this ideal of ‘the perfect woman’ existing in the passive case. Through the medium of fairytale, Carter’s inversion and subversion of women being, ‘defined in the passive case’ generates agreement and rebuttal in line with the critical interpretation. Similarly, Shelley’s trauma of losing her … Read more
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, has written a novel about a character named Victor Frankenstein who is determined to create a source of human life. What he does not know is that his creation would soon be a huge mistake. Frankenstein’s creation turns out to be a monster and he is afraid of … Read more
Shelley and Ishiguro present monstrosity as an accentuated premise in Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go with the characters acting as mouthpieces for society’s ills. The authors were writing with an overwhelming backdrop of scientific discovery; Frankenstein coinciding with the Industrial Revolution, which was a threat to the contemporary fundamentalism of the Church, and Never … Read more
The term monster is often used to describe someone who has no compassion or genuine desire for love. Mary Shelley presents this idea through her novel Frankenstein. Mary Shelley shows how alienation can create a monster and the use of dangerous knowledge can be a result of this idea. In Mary Shelley’s 1818 Frankenstein, the … Read more
The terminology of the “monster” formerly often relates to a creature that has a deformity physical appearance. The monsters are often described to have a disgusting, detestable and abominable appearances with the supernatural power that can control everything as well as they can create a massacre to destroy violently everything getting in their ways. However, … Read more
In “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley there is an in depth discussion between the importance of human lives and nature throughout the story. Throughout the narrative Mary Shelley creates metaphorical bridges to connect the two using Victor Frankenstein’s life as a catalyst between the different relationships, mainly amongst his friends and family. which are seemingly burned … Read more
Fate is the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power, while Free Will is the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one’s own discretion. Throughout the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the question of fate vs. free will is … Read more
Whenever you watch a movie or a TV show or in this case, a novel, there is always a antagonist and a protagonist. The other thing that you notice is how this characters are more similar to each other than we really notice. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, we are given two characters that also show … Read more
Victor Frankenstein came from a very loving family. His family and friends cherished him but he was unable to reciprocate this love and affection after the creation of the monster. Throughout the novel, Victor is showed as a selfish person. Only thinking of himself before he realizes how is actions affect the people close to … Read more
Falling Frankenstein “Softened feelings stole into my heart and dared to whisper paradisiacal dreams of love and joy; but the apple was already eaten, and the angel’s arm bared to drive me from all hope”(Shelley 196). Victor Frankenstein said the above words when reflecting on his future expectation of death by the hands of his … Read more
1. Synopsis: Chapter 4: The monster continues telling his side of the story. He continues watching the cottagers, longing to be with them. He notices that some of them aren’t happy, and feels deeply for them. He continues to observe them and comes to realize that their unhappiness is from the poverty they have been … Read more
In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelly uses a gothic fantasy to subtly elude to criticisms she had on naturalism in the Romantic Era, and its paradoxical emphasis on artificiality in order to create a natural world far from reality. The definition of something’s nature is dependent on the inherent characteristics that are presented. This emphasis … Read more
Frankenstein 1. Who is Prometheus? Why is Frankenstein subtitled “The Modern Prometheus?” Prometheus, meaning “forethought,” was the son of Titan, Iapetus and Oceanid, Clymene. He was given the task of molding the first man out of clay. Later Zeus instructed Epimetheus and Prometheus to give mankind gifts to make them prosper. To do so, Prometheus … Read more
From early vampire films to the slasher movies of the seventies and eighties, the horror genre has captivated audiences since the beginning of the moving image. As time passes, however, audiences often find horror films boring or even laughable through overused conventions and repetitive plot lines. Present day horror filmmakers have had to completely rebrand … Read more
Ambition is defined as “an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honour, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment” (dictionary.com). As such, ambition is an intense quality and one that should be desired. It can, however, be seen as a form of greed, if someone … Read more
There are different ideas regarding nature. John Keats mentions nature in his letter and refers to it as being evil and good. The novel Frankenstein refers to nature as being evil and good. These two sources given to us are very similar. Nature can be defined in many ways. Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and Frankenstein’s … Read more
Women can either make or break the world. They have the capability to run the world or completely destroy it, there are many different women in the world and each of them contributes individually. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth it is clear to see that the women in Frankenstein and Macbeth … Read more
Romantic writers are concerned with nature, human feelings, dreams, compassion, rebellion against society, and freedom of individuals. All of these characteristics are expressed in the novel Frankenstein. Romanticism, a literary movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasized the importance of emotion, nature, and individualism, reacting against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. The Romantic … Read more
The Novel that has been read during this class was the one called Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Upon first reading the novel we meet a captain named Robert Walton who is on a voyage through the North Pole. On this voyage he comes across a man named Victor Frankenstein, a man so weak that he … Read more
Writing an essay about Frankenstein
This classic novel continues to be studied in schools and universities across the world, and literature students are often required to analyse Shelley’s work as an essay assignment.
Mary Shelley was an English writer best known for her gothic novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. It was first published in 1818, when Mary was only twenty-one years old. Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in London on August 30, 1797 to Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Her mother was a radical feminist philosopher and her father was a novelist and philosopher. After her mother’s death, Mary was left in the care of her father, who encouraged her to pursue her literary ambitions.
Frankenstein is a horror novel about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. The creature is rejected by society and eventually realizes the horror of his existence. He sets out to seek revenge on his creator. The novel touches on many themes such as the dangers of playing God, the power of knowledge, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Frankenstein is widely considered to be the first science fiction novel ever written and it has had a lasting influence on the genre.
If you are looking to write an essay on Frankenstein, there are several things to consider. First, what is your thesis statement? Make sure it is clear and concise and sets the tone for your essay. Next, you will want to think about the major themes of the novel and how they are explored. Analyzing the characters and their motives is also important. You can also look at how the novel fits into the larger context of the Gothic genre. Finally, consider the influence of the novel on contemporary literature and culture.
To write your essay, begin by researching the novel and its author. This will give you a good background for your essay. Next, create an outline of your essay, breaking it down into sections. Consider the structure of your argument and the evidence you will need to support it. Once you have a clear outline, you can begin drafting your essay. Make sure to include an introduction and conclusion and to proofread your work before submitting it.
Writing an essay on Frankenstein can be a challenging and rewarding experience. By researching the novel, its author, and its themes, you will gain a deeper understanding of the work and its lasting impact. With careful consideration and attention to detail, you can create an essay that will make a lasting impression.