Frankenstein: a worthwhile classic

I just got through re-reading Mary Shelley’s classic tale Frankenstein (also known to some as The Modern Prometheus) and it’s really interesting to note how much of the original story has been distorted by time & myth. I first attempted to read the book when I was in 7th grade, but at the time much of it went over my head and I never did finish it all the way through; I remember it being slow and somewhat boring. But after watching the 1994 movie adapation (with Robert DeNiro as the creature) which I liked so much, I wanted to read the original novel to see how faithful the film was to the book. To my surpise, though certainly there are plenty of character and plot discrepancies between the two, much of the seminal story’s essence and intention remained intact in the feature film directed and stared by Kenneth Branagh. Previous versions brought to the big screen (among other formats) mostly tended to distort and dumb-down the characters while making the overall plot serve little more than that of a sensational horror tale.

Which leads me to wonder how could Shelley’s rich & provocative story could get so watered down in the first place!? After countless renditions and reinterpretations it’s characters have been made pratically vapid over the last two centuries, and I find that so sad because the main characters have such intriguing origins to their tragic situations. Sure, I enjoy the sensational version of Victor Frankenstein’s creature in it’s own right, but after finally reading the classic 1818 story by Shelley I couldn’t help but think what a general disservice popular culture has done towards her story and characters of this novel. With the exception of Mel Brook’s clever film parody Young Frankenstein I think it’s awful how the depth of Frankenstein has been eroded over the years.

One of my favorite passages from the book is a reference to some lines from John Milton’s Paradise Lost:

      Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
      To mould me man? Did I solicit thee
      From darkness to promote me?

The classic story poses some very profound questions, chiefly as a creator of a new life who bears the responsibility of that creature’s actions? Is it accepatable as a creator of life to abandon that creation simply because it’s appearance disgusts you? It also seems to touch upon the significance of the parent-child relationship along with calling into question traditional ideals of masculinity. Overall, I thought the novel was exceptional and would gladly read it again.

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