Скачать или смотреть Frankenstein: Character Analysis: GCSE English Literature Edexcel

Who’s the Real Monster? What We Still Get Wrong About Frankenstein

When you hear the name "Frankenstein," what comes to mind? For most, it’s the image of a lumbering, green-skinned giant with bolts in his neck, capable only of grunts and groans. This pop-culture caricature has dominated our imagination for decades. But what if the creature from Mary Shelley’s original 1818 novel was nothing like that?

Shelley's Frankenstein is not a simple monster movie in book form. It is a profound and tragic exploration of humanity, ambition, and isolation. The characters are far more complex and surprising than their cinematic counterparts suggest. By looking closely at the original text, we can uncover several counter-intuitive truths that challenge our most basic assumptions about who to root for—and who to fear.

Four Surprising Takeaways from Frankenstein

1. The Real Monster Might Be the Scientist

Far from being a simple, misguided genius, Victor Frankenstein is portrayed in the novel as deeply arrogant, irresponsible, and obsessed with personal glory. His ambition is so boundless that he begins to see himself as a godlike figure, capable of transcending the natural order of the world.

His own words reveal this staggering hubris. As he closes in on his discovery, he thinks:

"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me."