The novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelly impressed me by the mere fact of its creation. It takes some believing, but Shelly wrote this novel in the age of 18. Nowadays Frankenstein, which had been written as a sort of literary competition, gave birth to the new literary style. The name of the main character of the novel, who has created the living monster from the insentient substance, became a special sign that in a course of time widened its meaning. Having read the history of this novel creation, I was surprised how such a young girl could create such a grotesque character full of the mystic horror and at the same time exciting pity by its dramatic destiny.
One of the stylistic means used by the author to make her novel sound more realistic is the specific form of narration. The novel is written in the form of letters of its main characters. Moreover, such stylistic mean as miseen abyme is also used.
The given extract is rich in description of the beautiful Alpine nature affected by the impression of the authors journey to Switzerland. Reading these particular parts of the novel, I was surprised in a certain manner. The protagonist describes such terrible event as the death of his relative, admiring the beauty of nature at the same time. I must admit that the descriptions of the nature make this novel imaginative, but to my opinion, being used in the letters of the main characters these descriptions make them in a certain manner insincere.
While reading this text, I was impressed by the Victors anxiety for knowledge. On the one hand, his eager desire to study the unexplored spheres of the science may be explained by the research interest. On the other hand, even without knowing the future events, it is possible to foresee that his attempts to enliven the dead substance will lead to the dreadful circumstances. Moreover, it is a great sin from the religious point of view, and from the point of view of the universal human values. Victor was eager to make the perfect creature, instead he received a monster.
His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. (Shelley, 1994, p.51 ).
This description of the created monster is rather natural and vivid. This very scene of the monster creation reminds me our contemporary scientists who in their researches, which are rather senseless sometimes, try to change the natural laws.
However, frankly speaking, I was shocked by another fact. After the experiment, having seen what he had done, Victor Frankenstein runs away in horror. He is conscious that he has created the new living being. He knows nothing about the character and the intentions of the monster. At the same time, Victor feels relief when he finds out that the monster has disappeared. Victor does not worry about the fact, that this monster may constitute a threat for the society. As well as he does not worry about the creature, for whom he is responsible.
Reference List
Shelley, M. (1994). Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications.