Frankenstein

             The name "Frankenstein" has endured a series of transformations, and a much longer life than its bearer- Victor Frankenstein. The biography of the name can also be seen as more profoundly captivating than that of the scientist.
             Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, has definitely come a long way since 1818, even though Shelley's original purpose has been compromised for the sake of entertainment and profit. Through various appropriations throughout the twentieth century, Frankenstein has become more a tool for entertainment purposes, rather than the intended moral and scientific lesson it was first written to teach. This is strongly due to the fact that times are changing, as well as society's attitudes towards certain issues, including the many ethics raised within the novel.
             Many of the earlier film adaptations of Shelley's Frankenstein, appropriated the eccentric aspects of the text, which shared a horror theme. This is highly due to the fact that horror films were relatively new, and also rapidly increasing in popularity throughout the 1900's. Frankenstein's story posed as an exciting one, and allowed great exploration of this horror theme. James Whale's 1931 version of Frankenstein depicted the monster as 'evil' and insensitive, as a creature which held no grasp of human feelings, and possessed no human qualities. This is in great contrast to Shelley's monster, one possessing great sensitivity, and such human characteristics as kindness, compassion, and a desperate yearning to be loved. He suffers pain much like humans, as he reflects in the novel, "It was dark when I awoke, I felt cold and half frightened as it was instinctively, finding myself so desolate...feeling pain invade me, I sat down and wept." As we read the novel, we are bound into sympathy for the monster, as his personal thoughts and reflections manifest great human qualities, and the experiences he journeys thr...

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Frankenstein. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:12, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/79319.html