Introduction
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley is an example of a Romantic novel, and the author’s language, stylistic, and structural choices correspond to this style. These elements aim at communicating the attitudes and values the protagonists try to convey to the readers. Among these ideas is the pursuit of the idealistic desire of humans to overcome God in creation, the adoration of human reason, and the tragic downfall of the main protagonist in these attempts. This paper discusses the personifications and allusions to the Bible with the novel’s structure and its symbolic emphasis on light and fire. It allows assuming that the symbols, structure of the narration, and the means of literary expression will enable the author to create the image of the person who tried to compete with the Creator but failed.
Allusions and Personification
Allusions and personification are the vital components of the novel, and their connection with the text of the Holy Scripture emphasizes the Christian meaning behind them. It is necessary to mention that the writers of the Romantic period did not doubt the Christian doctrine, and Shelley’s novel proves God’s omnipotence and the human’s humble abilities (Schoene-Harwood, 2020). For example, the story’s narrator tries to compete with God in the ability to create a living being.
The allusion to the Holy Scripture and the personification of the narrator with God can be illustrated by the lines from the novel. The narrator asks himself the rhetorical question: “will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). This excerpt shows that the scientist thinks that the human mind’s abilities can make people superior to God. It is possible to explain this assumption with the standard view of the progressive people of the 19th century that the development of natural science might allow humanity to understand all secrets of the universe (Lobdell, 2020). This personification of the scientist with the Creator and the allusion to the Holy Scripture emphasizes the author’s perspective concerning progress.
Other allusions to the Bible in the discussed text show that the protagonists are religious despite their faith in scientific progress. The narrator understands that his experiment failed and personifies himself from the Biblical protagonists. He says: “I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). This dichotomy is typical of the Christian perception of reality, and the scientist uses it when he thinks about his life. He tried to become the first man God created and become God himself, but instead of it, he made a mistake and was cursed.
The protagonist uses numerous allusions to the Holy Scripture because it is the basis of his understanding of the universe. For example, the protagonist exclaims in the critical situation: “accursed creator!.. God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). These reflections constitute the changes in his worldview, emphasizing the deep meaning of the tragedy that happened to the narrator. Therefore, the allusions and the personification from the Bible allow Shelley to underline the existence of the second layer of meaning behind narration and the protagonists.
Framed Narrative
The notion of framed narrative is connected with discussing several layers of meaning in “Frankenstein.” This literary text structure allows the author to implement several connotations into the novel. In this case, the main frame consists of Captain Walton’s letters to Margaret, his sister. The man “seeks for knowledge and wisdom just as I Victor did,” which makes his motivation similar to Victor has (Shelley 2018, p. 1). The additional frame in the story is about Victor, the scientist, and the creature he created. He writes to Margaret that Frankenstein was “devoting himself, either in his life or death, to his [the monster’s] destruction” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). At the end of these attempts to destroy the monster, Victor is “almost deprived of life” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). The use of framed narration allows the author to provide the readers with alternative points of view on the events in the story. This literary device will enable them to see the main protagonist’s isolation and struggle of the main protagonist from a different perspective.
Symbolism for Stylistic Choices
It is necessary to mention the symbolism of fire and light, even in the novel’s title. Frankenstein is also referred to as the modern Prometheus, which implies the meaning of the Antique myth about the God who brought fire to people. From the perspective of the classical myth, the light and fire that Prometheus gave humanity was the gift of creation and knowledge, and he was punished for it. Victor, in his turn, tries to repeat a similar action by creating the monster, and he is also punished for his desire to compete with God.
The text has numerous references to these symbols, emphasizing their importance in content perception. When he thinks about creating a human, “a sudden light broke upon” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). Walton plans to depart on the expedition to “a country of eternal light,” which also refers to scientific knowledge and discovery (Shelley 2018, p. 1). Finally, when Victor creates the monster, he sees fire and light and understands what he did. It is written in the novel: “A flash of lightning illuminated the object… its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect more hideous than belongs to humanity” (Shelley 2018, p. 1). Therefore, knowledge is associated with the symbols of bringing light to humanity, but it can also turn into a destructive fire, as the narration shows.
Conclusion
The choice of language, structural and stylistic devices allows Shelley to communicate values and attitudes in the discussed novel. “Frankenstein” aims to show familiar ideas from a new perspective, which makes this text revolutionary for the beginning of the 19th century. The author uses allusions and references to the Holy Scriptures, personifies the narrator with God, and appeals to classical mythology by developing the symbolism of fire and light. In addition, the structure of the narrator emphasizes the message about the inability of humans to overcome God in creating and the limited powers of the individual. These literary elements and devices make “Frankenstein” an example of Romantic literature with the description of the tragic hero’s downfall. Moreover, the references to Christianity are also consistent with this literary style. Combining the literary devices mentioned above allows Shelley to shed light on knowledge and progress from a different perspective.
References
Lobdell, N. (2020). Never dead: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Science Fiction Studies, 47(2), 253–261. Web.
Schoene-Harwood, B. (2020). Writing men: Literary masculinities from Frankenstein to the New Man. Edinburgh University Press.
Shelley, M. (2018). Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus. Project Gutenberg. Web.