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Frankenstein
- Authors
- Name
- Mary Shelley
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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Summary
"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" is a novel written by Mary Shelley that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in London on January 1, 1818.
Themes
The novel explores complex themes such as the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition, isolation, revenge, and the quest for knowledge. It delves into the ethical and moral questions surrounding the creation of life and the responsibilities that come with it.
Plot Overview
The story is presented as a frame narrative, told from the perspective of Captain Robert Walton, who encounters Frankenstein in the Arctic. Frankenstein recounts his life story, from his childhood in Geneva to his obsession with discovering the secret of life that leads him to create the Creature. The Creature, intelligent and articulate, shares its own tale of suffering and loneliness, which drives it to seek vengeance against its creator for bringing it into a world that hates and fears it.
Characters
- Victor Frankenstein: The ambitious scientist whose quest for knowledge and power leads him to create the Creature.
- The Creature: Frankenstein's creation, rejected by society and its creator, seeking acceptance and revenge.
- Robert Walton: The sea captain who rescues Frankenstein and listens to his tragic story.
- Elizabeth Lavenza: Victor's cousin and love interest, representing domesticity and the consequences of Victor's neglect.
- Henry Clerval: Victor's best friend, embodying the human warmth and friendship absent in Victor's life.
Conclusion
The novel ends with Victor pursuing the Creature to the Arctic, determined to destroy it. However, Victor dies on Walton's ship, and the Creature, mourning the death of its creator, vows to end its own life and disappears into the icy darkness.
"Frankenstein" remains a seminal work in the Gothic and science fiction genres, raising enduring questions about science, ethics, and the nature of humanity.