If you are only familiar with Frankenstein through pop culture, but have never read the novel, you may be in for a surprise. I certainly was.
As it turned out, this isn’t a horror novel. Instead, it’s a very human and very sad story about characters who for one reason or another are doomed to a miserable destiny.
Mary Shelley was only 18 years old, when she began writing Frankenstein. Shelley had experienced personal loss herself, including her mother and an infant child. This may have influenced the narrative.
Besides from being a gripping story, the novel also made me reflect on various lessons to be learned. Spoilers included.
1. Consider the consequences of your ground-breaking achievements before going ahead
Why do hundreds of people try to climb Mount Everest every year despite the high number of fatalities? Why do we constantly strive to progress within areas such as cloning, gene manipulation and AI, even if we have limited overview of where it may lead? The answer is: Because we can. This in an inherent characteristic of the human race and it has driven the amazing progress, we have achieved in our limited time on earth.
But shouldn’t we sometimes stop and think before we tread new and dangerous (or morally ambiguous) ground? Both Frankenstein, a brilliant science student, and the explorer Walton are prime examples of people with extreme drive and ambition. However, Frankenstein’s achievement (i.e. creating “the monster”) brings misery and danger rather than recognition and success. In hindsight that should have been obvious.
Walton, on the other hand, draws a different conclusion, when he is on the brink of a break-through. Perhaps, he benefitted from the knowledge of Frankenstein’s story? Or perhaps he is just the better of the two.
2. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Initially, Frankenstein’s monster, isn’t a monster at all. He is a kind, empathetic creature, who wants to help other people and wants to be part of a community. Unfortunately, his appearance scares people away and everyone assumes he must be evil based on looks alone. Nobody, except Frankenstein, ever sees his true personality.
3. Other people’s stories are part of our own story
All the way through, we see how one person’s story is affected by the story of others and how the destinies of many of the characters are closely linked.
Frankenstein is written in nested form with quite a few levels. The overall narrative is given by Walton via letters to his sister. This comes about because Walton meets Frankenstein on his way to the North Pole and Frankenstein reveals his full story. Nested in that is the monster’s story, which is told to Frankenstein by the monster himself. Inside the monster’s story the De Lacey family appears and their destiny is again closely linked to Safie and her father.
I couldn’t help speculating how a different behaviour from the people in the monster’s story (incl. Frankenstein) could have caused a different and better outcome for most of the characters involved. Sometimes a little kindness goes a long way. Perhaps, that is a lesson in itself?
4. We are all monsters, none of us are monsters
It has been argued that Frankenstein is the real monster in the story, but actually I didn’t see any of them as pure monsters. Both Frankenstein and his creation were fundamentally kind and caring people, who were driven to do monstrous things. The monster responded to alienation and rejection. Frankenstein was first driven by blind ambition and later by cowardice. He made a disastrous mistake, couldn’t face it and tried to run and hide. Obviously, that wasn’t the right thing to do, but it felt like a very human reaction.
Frankenstein and his monster have character traits in common, but their initial conditions in life couldn’t be further apart. Frankenstein had everything: A loving family, friends, status and education. The monster had nothing.
However, by the end of the novel, when the two characters meet in the Arctic, they are on an equal footing. The Arctic setting perfectly reflects their position in life. None of them have anything or anyone left to care about. It’s just the two of them in the frozen, bare landscape reflecting back on their miserable lives. So yes, they both did terrible things, which they regretted and they both paid a terrible price. Does that make them monsters?
“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 become greater than his nature will allow.“
Title: Frankenstein [1831 edition, first edition in 1818] Author: Mary Shelley Format: Audiobook, narrated by Dan Stevens Genre: Classics
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Excellent discussion and I agree with everything. It has themes in it that we can definitely still learn from today. Really made me think.
Thanks so much! It certainly has many themes, we can learn from today. Especially, I can’t help thinking how relevant the first point is, with all the progress science is making these days. Of course, I’m highly supportive of science, but also a massive fan of thinking through the practical and ethical consequences.
Like you, I’d never read the book, whilst almost feeling that I had. You’ve encouraged me. I’ll look it out and read it for real.
It’s easy to get the wrong impression from the Frankenstein known in pop culture. However, I can’t blame other creators for using the monster in their own works – he is such a brilliantly inventive and progressive character! Hope you will enjoy it, if you decide to pick it up!
It’s on the (long) list …
Haha, sry about that!
Fantastic review. Like most who read this novel after only having experienced pop culture, the tone comes as a surprise.
Aww thanks, glad you enjoyed it! 😀 I will guarantee, you are up for a surprise with the novel. The “monster” is probably more kind and sensitive (besides from the monstrous things he does later) than most modern people.
It definitely is easy (or maybe convenient?) to categorize this as a “monster” story but it really is so much more than that. I have been reading a book that discusses HG Wells’s The Time Machine and how it appears to be “just” a sci-fi book but was really a social commentary. I like books that make you think about all of the layers. I might need to re-read Frankenstein now too. I don’t think high-school me probably appreciated all of the nuances. Thanks for your review!
Very true, it’s convenient to label it as monster story, but I guess that is the impression you get unless you actually read the novel. Interesting about The Time Machine. I could imagine most of the classic sci-fi and horror stories include layers and food for thought. After all, there is a reason, why they have become classics. I didn’t read Frankenstein in school, but I don’t think, I would have appreciated as much back then.
Excellent review/discussion! Frankenstein is one of my favourite novels, so I’m glad you both enjoyed it and found it so thought provoking.
Thanks Callum! 😀 It really was surprisingly good and thought provoking. It’s so impressive how influential Frankenstein has been through time, but it’s more the idea of the monster, rather than the novel in itself.
I mentioned previously that it’s been on my maybe-I’ll-read-it list for years. Perhaps 2022 will be the year I give it a try.
You should give it a try, it’s nice to know the real story behind Frankenstein’s monster and it’s a great story!
Huh, I didn’t really know this story at all it seems. I thought Frankenstein was the creation and an evil one. I presume the media made up this image because I don’t know how I could get my wires crossed like this. Thank you for teaching me something new and interesting. Maybe I should try to listen to this classic too!
Yes, it’s a common misconception, that Frankenstein is the monster and that he is brutal and evil. That’s why, the original story took me by surprise. The media definitely took what they liked from the novel (namely the creation of a monster from body parts) and ignored the rest. It’s a very good story, but don’t expect any horror as such, then you will be disappointed.
It was included in my Audible subscription so I’ll listen to it later this year!
Yup, that’s how I got it as well! I love all the free classics, which are included in Audible plus.
Wonderful review! I read Frankenstein some years ago, and now I’m really excited that the book club I’m in will be reading it. Frankenstein is a great book from different perspectives. If you learn about Mary Shelley’s biography, you would find another big reason for this to be a marvelous book: a woman, doing “men” stuff (not any stuff but creepy stuff, philosophical stuff). I love it! And I enjoyed you review very much.
Thanks Dynra! 😀 I could imagine, it’s an excellent book club pick, there are so many interesting discussions to be had around it. Ah yes, I am sure Shelley is an interesting person, I should like to know more about her. I have a feeling, I read that she published the initial story anonymously in order not to reveal it was written by a woman. Rather sad…
Very thoughtful post! I think I’m due a re-read of the book!
Thanks, I could see myself reading again in the future. When I first read it, the first 20% or so was spent by being puzzled, because it was so different from what I expected. Next time, I may enjoy the initial letters and backstory more.
Yes, I remember being confused at first by the frame narrative. I think it’s one of those books that you can appreciate more every time you read it 🙂
Agreed. That is a sign of a very good book in my opinion. There aren’t that many books, which I feel like rereading.
I completely agree. I had to read Frankenstein in a college class and wasn’t looking forward to it at all – I had so many misperceptions about it. You’re absolutely right about the many layers nested into this story (fantastic comparison with the nesting dolls!) and the different meanings and lessons it offers. It surprised me so much what I got from it and what it really was – the horror movie genre has forever colored popular perception of this one, I think.
It’s funny how different the original story is from the Frankenstein we know from pop culture. However, I can’t blame other creators from using the idea. The creation of the monster really was extremely original, terrifying and strangely predictive seeing what science is up to these days. I know lots of students have to read Frankenstein, but not sure I would have appreciated it quite as much if read as a youngster.
I guess I was in my early twenties, and I was really surprised how much I ended up appreciating it! I’m sure it would be a wholly different experience now though.
It’s always interesting to reread a book, you’ve enjoyed years ago. I am sure Frankenstein will only benefit from a reread and maybe you will pay attention to different details than you did back then.
Great post! I really need to read it!
Thanks, I hope you will enjoy it!
I’ve never been a fan so was never inclined to read the book. I had no idea it was so multi-layered. Now, I feel I need to read it.
Honestly, I had no idea either. It was a couple of reviews from fellow bloggers, which made me interested. Before seeing those reviews, I wouldn’t have dreamt of picking it up. A good decision!
Brilliant review! I was so surprised when I discovered how the monster actually talks versus what the classic movie adaptation did to the character. It’s quite an intriguing philosophical tale with so much to to appreciate. I do remember the prose being a bit complex from start to finish but definitely something I would reread in the future. Thanks for sharing! 😀
Thanks Lashaan, I was utterly surprised as well. Actually, I almost thought, I’d picked up the wrong book during the first couple of chapters. Completely different from what I expected! Yes, I suppose the prose was somewhat complex, but it helped to listen to the audiobook. Everything is easier on audio… You’re welcome, it was fun writing this post! 😀
Nicely done. Yes I think I’d be surprised if I read the novel today based on just what I know from pop culture. It makes me curious to read about this sad figure.
Thanks Susan, the discrepancy between the Frankenstein known from the horror genre and the original story is mind-bending. I’m glad, I finally got around to read the novel.
Frankenstein is a sad story, I totally agree. I loved your thought-provoking discussion points. Excellent post!
Thanks Tessa, it really was sad. And the worst thing was, all the misery was self-inflicted (for Frankenstein’s, anyway).
This is such a brilliantly thoughtful post. I absolutely loved Frankenstein and was completely surprised by it, your points are spot on the ‘nesting’ of the stories is such a good way of putting it. Definitely a novel I need to read again.
Yay, I am glad you enjoyed the post! Your review of Frankenstein was an important factor in my decision to pick up this novel in the first place. The nesting was quite an interesting way of telling the story. To be honest, I was highly confused by the initial letters, but eventually it all came together.
Yes you have to just stick with it don’t you and not make any judgements until the end, I was constantly being surprised.
Me too!
My reaction was as yours: the book is nothing like the media portrayals. It is a layered book; your use of ‘nesting’ is perfect. And it’s very sad. There were points in the tale where it seemed that just one small change in action or response would have changed the course of the narrative. I only read it a few years ago and I was so taken aback by it not being what I expected that I know I didn’t get as much from it as I could. Another one I need to read again. Great review, Stargazer!
Exactly! I felt a few changes in response could have altered the whole thing as well. But then there wouldn’t have been much of a story. Most likely, I would enjoy it more if I were ever to reread. In the beginning, I struggled a bit, because it was so different from expectations and I didn’t really see the point in the first letters from Walton. Thanks Sandra!
I read this years ago and was surprised by the unending tragedy. One could understand the monster’s longing to belong and his vendetta after rejection.
Yes, I didn’t imagine beforehand, that I would end up feeling a lot of empathy with the monster. More than with Frankenstein, as it happens.
A very cool post! Yes indeed, nothing about Frankenstein is how the media portray it.
Thanks Ola G. I’m glad some fellow bloggers reviewed this book, otherwise it wouldn’t have occurred to me to pick it up.
Frankenstein has been called the first science-fiction novel and I think it really did set the tone for this genre. There are a lot of reasons why the story is relevant today, but for me it’s the way it extrapolates contemporary trends-something that is integral to sci-fi and dystopian fiction still today. I recently read “Frankiss-stein” by Jeanette Winterson which is a really fun retelling of the original story set in the future. It reminded me again why Frankenstein is still relevant today.
i didn’t know about it being called first scifi novel, but I can definitely see that being true. And seeing what goes on in science these days, it was also rather predictive. We seem to challenge nature constantly. I’ve heard good things about Frankiss-stein. The same goes for Frankenstein in Baghdad. It really shows how relevant the story still is and how much inspiration other writers and creators find in the novel.
Very interesting post. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book when I read it a few years ago. I love the nesting dolls image–it helps see the book’s structure so well.
I am glad you noticed the nested dolls – it took me a while to find a good photo! 😆 It seems like this novel has taken many readers by surprise. Amazing how different the Frankenstein inspired movies come across compared to the novel.