FRANKENSTEIN

By: Mary Shelley

Why written?

• holiday entertainment in Geneva, Switzerland
• exchange of ghost stories

Victor Frankenstein

• childhood
• inward struggle
• interesting format...letters, storytelling, stories within stories
• gives reason to tell the story..to teach a lesson, give warning

Walton

• writes letters to sister (M.W.S)
• lonely, longs for a friend (that is smart and sensitive)
• not very educated; read for his education

Clerval

• nurses F. back to health
• old childhood friend
• cheerful, sympathetic

Monster

• music affects him...brings tears of sorrow and delight
• -able to experience beauty and recognize it
• learned very

Frankenstein is terrified of monster suddenly when it comes alive

Reaction: doesn't meet expectations, life scares him (beautiful to HORRIFIC)

Monster's behavior: reaches toward F., grinning.

Victor Frankenstein

• Mental state / physical state: SICK
• He's touched something sacred
• Suddenly, its out of his control...no longer a controlled lab experiment
• Feels responsibility for monster's actions (William's, Justine's, Clerval's deaths)
• "Challenge" mindset rather than "outcome"
• Motivations: wanted to stop or turn around death (Caroline's)
• desire for some grand transformation / promise
• wanted to 'play God'...desire for gratitude by creatures
• ..."I brought you into this world" Father
• ...emotional tie with creature
• ...create in order to control / gratitude

Painting at F.'s home of Caroline attending her father's coffin.

- Why have picture of death & despair in home?

~ reminds father of why he loved Caroline?

~ Father's desire for gratitude and control also?

MOVIE

scarier--horror film

ppl know about experiment--tell him he's crazy- this angers him

F. is much more irrational and angry...but in good health after

monster's brain in abnormal

F. is excited about monster coming alive

fire make it evil