Friday, October 18, 2013

Frankenstein





Victor Frankenstein's life began as a pleasant one. He was raised by a loving family, had a close friend, and a sweetheart. He leaves for University, and everything changes. He becomes obsessed with his studies, which culminates in an experiment where he creates life in the form of a monster. His creation becomes the bane of his existence, leaving him filled with horror and remorse for his work.

This was my first time reading Frankenstein. I knew the basic plot, a scientist creates a terrible monster, the monster causes problems, and people try to kill the monster. I did not realize previous to reading it, that there was such depth to the story. I was surprised to find it was more about human nature and ethics, than it was about a mad scientist and his monster. Shelly brings up some difficult questions in the book about what is owed by a creator to the things it creates, how we judge people and things by their appearance, the consequences of advancements in science, and much more.

I liked the implications of a monster that is thinking, communicating, and has feelings. It added a lot of emotion to the story, while allowing Shelly to bring up some of the issues of ethics and treatment of others in a more natural way. The awareness the monster has about his actions helps you sympathize with both Frankenstein and his monster at different moments.

I think this is an important book to read. I don't think Frankenstein is given the appreciation it deserves, particularly in media portrayals of the story. It asks questions that are still relevant today, and they are questions we should be asking ourselves. Don't worry, Shelly isn't preaching these ideas to you. They are a natural part of the story. I would recommend reading it if you like thought provoking stories that are told in captivating ways.

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