Shelley's "Frankenstein"

Theodor von Holst - 1881 - Frankenstein (Inside Cover)

After reading Wells' The Time Machine and Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I thought I had prepared myself for the differences in Shelley's Frankenstein and the modern understanding of Frankenstein's Monster.  The introduction to the well-spoken 'monster' still surprised me. Why is it that modern society has taken such liberties when representing classic literature?  If this change in perception can happen within 50 years of a book being published, how can we trust the integrity of older, texts, translated thousands of years ago, after being passed down orally for generations?  I can't wait until I finally have time to sit down and read Stoker's Dracula.

The daemon represents not only the follies of playing with nature and technology that is so prevalent during this industrialised late Victorian period, but also man himself, let loose without God's guidance.  The Monster himself identifies with Adam, abandoned by his creator, but without an "Eve" by his side.  This puts M. Frankenstein in the position of both playing God, who in a Christian society is understood to be the only being "capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter" (23).  Interestingly, the author doesn't really engage with the subject of the soul; something that I would have expected in a text which clearly engages with Christian concepts.

Instead, the text hinges on the idea of morals being taught and character flaws being at least partially a result of lack of parental guidance.  There are also elements of character being a result of nature: the daemon looks flawed externally and proves to be flawed internally, the female characters are drawn as beautiful (especially Elizabeth) and they each represent flat icons of perfection.

"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be come greater than his nature will allow." (23)

Works Cited:
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. Public Domain: Amazon. Kindle e-book.