Frankenstein Review

Frankenstein is a story marked by it's intense obsession with death and its broken morals, morals that in fact reflect many of those exhibited in the real world. The genius scientist Frankenstein discovers the secret to delivering life unto an inanimate life form. In this way he deems himself a creator, one who can transcend the natural boundaries of human power. This theme of the artificially alive or the unnatural life is something seen often in Gothic stories. I believe what makes this story stand out is that this monster or unnatural life was not the cause of some unknown magic or ancient force such as with many vampire stories, but because of the efforts of a single man. In this way the ultimate power to break nature lies within our own minds and not in an unthinkable evil. Although this theme is dominant in the creation, the culmination of this feat leaves the creator vulnerable. This vulnerability is a very strong Gothic theme, the idea that the forces at play are not only very dangerous but cannot be stopped by any man. Indeed the monster is an unstoppable force when he so chooses and he does use this force to destroy lives.