Frankenstein

The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of the first gothic novels and was one of the launching points for the genre itself. While the novel demonstrates many of the “stereotypical” elements associated with the horror and gothic genres, it also has many features that make it unique and defy the standards of the genre.

            Since Frankenstein was one of the first gothic novels of its kind, it features many of the elements typically passed down through the gothic genre. For example, the novel sets a scary and intimidating mood by having many scenes take place on a dark and stormy night, making it seem as if nature itself was against the main character. Mary Shelley uses this setting to show how nature itself is unbalanced and rebelling at Frankenstein’s actions. This same element has been copied by numerous gothic stories written after this to add atmosphere.  Another element commonly adopted from Frankenstein is the revival of the dead. By having the dead come back to life, it awakens the fear of the past interfering with the present, whether it is our own unfavorable past or the history that came before us that we have no control over.

       While many aspects of Frankenstein have been passed down in gothic horror, other elements stand out from what is typically associated with the genre. For example, in most horror stories, there will be a defenseless heroine running from some sort of threat or monster. In Frankenstein, we instead see a strong young male running frantically for his life, making him seem weak and vulnerable to this threat. Another element not typically found in horror stories is that the threat, the monster of Frankenstein, shows reason and logic. He understands his situation and gets upset when he is greeted by fear and terror instead of logic and rationale. In a way, this is reflective of the period it was written, as during this time focus on logic and science became popular.

            The novel Frankenstein presents many fundamental ingredients for the horror genre that have been passed down to modern storytelling, as well as unique elements that demonstrate the time period it was written in and aspects of the author herself.  It is interesting to see which elements of horror are passed down, those that are unique, and those that are revived over time, as modern storytellers contribute to the genre and make it evolve.