Frankenstein & Buffy

Gothicism is part of the Romantic Movement that started in the late eighteenth century and lasted roughly three decades into the nineteenth century. The Romantic Movement is characterised by innovation, spontaneity, freedom of thought and expression, an idealisation of nature and the belief of living in an age of “new beginnings and high possibilities”. The word ‘Gothic’ has a multiplicity of definitions, however, the gothic novel is a world of nightmare, and that nightmare is created by the individual who is in conflict with values of the prevailing society, it often represents a psychological reaction to evil that leads its characters into a moral ambiguity, for which no meaningful answers can be found. Several go

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The principal secret in the novel is the existence of the creature, which ultimately leads to the demise of Victor's loved ones. It is clear that Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ influenced this episode of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ as it shares themes, stereotypical characters and a similar plot to Shelley’s novel and contains the three characteristics of the gothic genre also found in Shelley’s novel. When Victor finally tells his secret to Walton, we cannot help but think that Frankenstein has had a burden lifted and he dies soon after. By way of themes, stereotypical characters and similar plot as well as the presence of gothic characteristics the influence the novel has had is easily observed. He goes on in great description about the insanity and terror that he felt.

The second characteristic of the gothic is the fascination with the unconscious and abnormal psychology. Frankenstein’s description of the creature also contributes to the atmosphere of fear and horror: “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these formed a contrast with his watery eyes” (p. The repetition of the threat uttered by the monster is much like a heartbeat driving Victor insane. Victor feels a sense of guilt about creating this hideous being that roams the earth to kill, much like the guilt the killer feels in Poe’s story. An example of this is the lack of warning Frankenstein gave Elizabeth about the monster, which ultimately could have saved her. In the episode entitled ‘Some Assembly Required’ we are confronted with the story of a gifted science student, Chris bringing his dead brother, Daryl back to life with the use of electrotherapy. He doesn't remember much of the time that he was in his cell, but he says, “I lay for two months on the point of death: my ravings, as I afterwards heard were frightful; I called myself the murderer of William, of Justine, and of Clerval” (p.

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Approximate Word count = 1275
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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