When writers and poets create their literary works, they use specific devices and techniques like imagery, metaphor, simile, and symbolism to better convey the theme and highlight important details. However, it may also happen that some readers interpret the text in many different ways and can see new meanings in literary works written hundreds of years ago. For example, in the 1818 novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, researchers and ordinary readers managed to find a concept that was not discussed before – they discuss unnatural as a metaphor for homosexuality.
It is unknown if this theme was introduced in the novel by Shelley on purpose. However, researchers noticed that “before creating the monster, Victor Frankenstein had implicitly exhibited an unconscious inclination to homosexuality” (Yang 591). For instance, there was a lack of intimacy and sexual desires between him and Elizabeth, while Victor was rather close with his friend Clerval. Nevertheless, it may be more important to explore unnatural as a metaphor for homosexuality.
The scientist was attracted to inanimate material; while turning his back on the world of nature, he tried to learn something unnatural, something beyond the law of God. The aim of Frankenstein was to “bestow animation upon lifeless matter,” break through the boundaries of death and life, and challenge the normality of heterosexuality (Shelley 89). By creating an unnatural monster and endowing life to the dead objects, Victor denied one of the main laws of nature. Consequently, he also proved that it was possible to create a new life without a female, and this unnaturalness challenged the idea of heterosexuality being the only way to procreate. Further, although Frankenstein is at first attracted by the unnatural monster (and homosexuality, as supposed), he later becomes disgusted with his creation (Shelley 98). This may be seen as a metaphor for contemporary people’s contradicting feelings towards homosexuality: while some men experienced homosexual inclinations, they at the same time tried to feel disgusted for them because of the fears and attitudes imposed by society.
To draw a conclusion, one may say that such an interpretation of the novel by Shelley seems to be rather possible and logical. Indeed, there are many hints that Frankenstein is homosexual, and his craving for the unnatural just shows his uncertainty or even hidden fear of his desires. Therefore, Victor’s creation of the monster is an attempt to learn about his own secret sexual desires and challenge heterosexuality.
Works Cited
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein, or the modern Prometheus. Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, 1818.
Yang, Siyu. “Homophobia and the Queered Gothic in Frankenstein.” Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, vol. 497, 2020, pp. 591-595.