THE GOTHIC NOVEL

THE INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE:

M. Shelley dedicated it to Godwin and she used many of the ideas held by her parents, including social justice and education. She sympathizes with the monster but she is afraid of the consequences of his actions: there is tension between the fear of revolution and interest in the revolutionary ideas. Both Percy and Mary were interested in science, and particularly, in chemistry, so that she was aware of the latest scientific theories and experiments of the day in the fields of chemistry, evolutionism and electricity; in fact F. tries to create a human being throughout the use of electricity and chemistry without respecting the rules of nature, overcoming human limits.

LITERARY INFLUENCES:

The Monster can be considered Rousseau's natural man, a man in a primitive state, not influenced by civilization. The ghosts stories read at Villa Diodati provided a stimulus even F. differs from the Gothic tradition, since it is not set in a dark castle. Important influence was the work of the Romantic poets. The myth of Prometheus is also important: Prometheus was a giant who stole he fire from Gods in order to give it to men. In so doing, he challenged the divine authority and freed men from Gods' power. He is a clear example of an overreacher, just like Dr. Frankenstein.

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE:

The story is told by different narrators:

at first, Walton informs her sister

then F. informs W., who informs her sister

finally the monster informs F., who informs W., who informs her sister

All the novel has Margaret as receiver, but there are three different points of view. The form of the novel is epistolary.

THEMES:

the quest for forbidden knowledge

the overreacher (doctor Frankenstein and Walton)

the double: Frankenstein and the monster are 2 aspects of the same being

the penetration of Nature's secrets

the usurpation of the female role, since the creation of human beings is possible without the participation of the women

social prejudice through the figure of the monster as an outcast

THE DOUBLE:

Walton is a double of Frankenstein, since he manifests the same ambition: the wish to overcome human limits. Frankenstein and his creature are complementary: they both suffer from a sense of alienation and isolation, both desire to be good, but then become obsessed with hate and revenge.