A Monster is Created

Who is Frankenstein?

The naming of the MONSTER

The novel Frankenstein was rather quickly adapted into plays after its original release; the first being in London July of 1823

Frankenstein
Movie Poster, 1931. Courtesy of The Granger Collection, New York.

Creator =

Creation

Appreciating Beauty

Elizabeth

through Victors eyes

Her eyes were hazel, and expressive of mildness. Her hair was of a rich dark auburn, her complexion fair, and her figure slight and graceful.(Shelley, 53)
Her hazel eyes although as lively as birds;

possessed an attractive softness. Her figure was light and airy; (Shelley, 20)

Safie through the monsters eyes

I beheld a continence of angelic beauty and expression.

Her hair of a shiny raven black and curiously braded. Her eyes were dark, but gentle, although animated; (Shelley, 80) her complexion wondrously fair, each cheek tinged with a lovely pink. (Shelley,81)

Is this love?
I love my cousin tenderly (Shelley, 108) I loved to tend on her, as I should on a favorite animal; and I never saw so much grace both of person and mind united to so little pretension. (Shelley, 20)

Gentle manners of the girl enticed my love. I

felt sensations of a particular and overpowering nature. (Shelley, 75)

The glorification of family

the cottagers, whose story excited in me such various feelings of indignation, delight, and wonder, but which all terminated in additional love and reverence for my protectors (Shelley, 84)

I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers-their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions (Shelley, 78)

I looked upon them as superior beings, who would be the arbiters of my future destiny (Shelley, 79)

No youth could have passed more happily than mine. My parents were indulgent, and my companions amiable. (Shelley, 21)

Our studies were never forced...which excited us to ardour in the prosecution of them. It was by this method, and not by emulation, that we were urged to application. (Shelley, 21)

Fondness of Nature

It surprised me that what before was desert and gloomy should now bloom with the most beautiful flowers and verdure. My senses were gratified and refreshed by a thousand scents of delight, and a thousand sights of beauty. (Shelley, 80)
Soon a gentle light stole over the heavens, and gave me a sensation of pleasure... I gazed with a kind of wonder. (Shelley, 70)

My spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature. (Shelley, 80)

During my youthful days discontent never visited my mind...the sight of what is beautiful in nature... could always interest my heart (Shelley, 114)
inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations. (Shelley, 45)

The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of solemnising my mind and causing me to forget the passing cares of life. (Shelley, 66)

Excitement towards learning

My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily master the language. (Shelley,82)
I began to study them with diligence. (Shelley, 90)

The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories. (Shelley, 89)

I ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge. (Shelley, 27) I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects (Shelley, 30) The world was to me a secret which I desired to discover. (Shelley, 20) natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation (Shelley, 30)

MONSTER
is created

 I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit. (Shelley, 33) I appeared rather like one doomed by slavery to toil. (Shelley, 35)
I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave, or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay. (Shelley, 33)

the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them; but, allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death. (Shelley, 97) The feelings of kindness and gentleness...gave way to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind. (Shelley, 99)

Cursed, cursed creator! Why in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? (Shelley, 95)

Cursed, cursed be the fiend that brought misery on his grey hairs, and doomed him to waste in wretchedness! (Shelley, 142)

I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so thoughtlessly bestowed. (Shelley, 62) I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean. (Shelley, 121) I often endeavored to put an end to the existence I loathed; and it required unceasing attendance and vigilance to restrain me from committing some dreadful act of violence. (Shelley, 132)

my feelings were those of rage and revenge. (Shelley, 95) revenge remains - revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! (Shelley, 120)

Now vice has degraded me beneath the meanest animal. (Shelley, 160)
I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in the agony of the torturing flames. (Shelley, 161)

OVERACHIEVER

S O C I E T Y

Mary Shelly as Frankenstein

is not creating out of nothing

my hideous progeny
(Mary Shelly)

the rejection of creation

The same face reflected in different mirrors.

Questions?