Mary Shelly s Frankenstein ventures into the realm of science fiction. It is consider a work of science fiction because it tells of imaginary events involving science and technology. Dr. Victor Frankenstein creates a life out of bits and pieces of others lying around. “It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burned out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light. I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open, it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs (56). Inspite every mad scientist dream this was out of the realm of possibility then and now. Now the creation of the monster is not the only appearance of science fiction in the novel. As everyone knows human babies are not born with ability to walk. Since the monster was created in the image of humans, it stands to reason that he would lack the same ability. However, unlike normal humans the creature is up and moving around within minutes. “As it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch-the miserable monster who I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if they may be called, were fixed on me”(57). Once again this is out of the realm of possibility. Now since the monster example falls into the literary technique of science fiction.
Frankenstein, is told through the view of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. This type of point of view is referred to as limited first-person. The story is told by Victor looking back at his life and all the major events in it. He tells us this story to convey a message that he has learned through his experiences. Here is an example of what he is trying to tell us. “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 him”(52). This is just one example of the point of view used through out the novel.
One of the most widely used literary technique is the use of irony. Of course, I wouldn t bring up irony with out it being present if Frankenstein. Dr. Victor Frankenstein toiled day in and day out. “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body”(56). As we all know he created a monster commonly refereed to as Frankenstein. “It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishments of my toils”(56). Now on to the irony. The irony lies in the fact that the monster who Victor toiled many years and nights, had become the one that haunted Victor. The monster who Victor bestowed life upon became the one that took it away. “The filthy demon to whom I had given life. He was the murderer!”(73) To put it into basic terms, the monster who Victor had given life also became the taker of it.
Frankenstein, being like most science fiction novels, contains elements of fantasy. A writer of fantasy presents improbable character, places, and events, often on involving magic or the supernatural. The monster, being an improbable character, is of course the element of fantasy. “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horried contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dunwhite sockets in which they were set his shriveled complexion and straight black lips”(56). Inspite every childs fears monsters only exist in a fantasy.
Even Frankenstein, a classic horror novel, has a moral. The novel is told by Dr. Victor Frankenstein. He is using this to convey his own personal morals after his experience. “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how mush 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”(52). He feels that the acquirement of knowledge brought him nothing but death and remorse. The monster that he discovered how to create came back and caused him his hardships. However, I believe Mary Shelly used this book to convey an even bigger moral. The moral she conveys is that man was never intended to play God and that man should never should cross that line. Victor Frankenstein created a monster in the image of humans. “I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! (56) God never intended for man to build life, just created it(babies). This monstrous creation same back and murders everyone close to Victor. “The filthy demon to whom I had given life. He was the Murderer!”(73) The basic moral of the entire novel is that when men play God, their creation or God himself, will soon level the playing field.
The subtitle The Modern Prometheus refers to the figure in Greek mythology who was responsible for a conflict between mankind and the gods. In order to help the people, Prometheus stole Zeus’s fire from the sun. The people were thereby given an advantage to the animals since fire gave man the ability to make weapons and tools. Prometheus was severely punished by Zeus who chained him to a rock in the Caucasus. Every night, Prometheus was visited by an eagle who ate from his liver. During the day, however, his liver grew back to its original state. It also refers to the story of Prometheus plasticator who was to said to have created and animated mankind out of clay. These two myths were eventually fused together: the fire that Prometheus had stolen is the fire of life with which he animated his clay models. Because of the ‘creating’ aspect, Prometheus became a symbol for the creating artist in the eighteenth century.
Victor Frankenstein can indeed be seen as the modern Prometheus. He defies the gods by creating life himself. Instead of being the created, Victor takes God’s place and becomes the creator. Just as Prometheus, Victor gets punished for his deeds. He is, however, punished by his creation whereas Prometheus was punished by the god who he stole from.
The text of the Signet Classic Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus is that of the third edition, revised and corrected by the author and published by Henry Colburn and Richard Bently, London, 1831. The author s Introduction, lacking in the first edition (1818) and the second (1823), was published in this edition for the first time. The text is reprinted here with permission from The Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation, Ins., on behalf of The Carl H. Pforzheimer Library.
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