A stellar work of science fiction and horror marred by a boring first half.
A staple of the horror genre since the days of horror greats Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney; “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” is arguably the work that defined science fiction and Gothic horror.
Told through a series of letters and first-person accounts, the story focuses on scientist Victor Frankenstein, his attempts to animate a creature he made from the pieces of corpses, and his quest to destroy said creature after he brings it to life.
Like many people, I was familiar with this story from the numerous film adaptation of it. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find not just a sci-fi/horror story, but an exploration of morality and what it means to be human. I didn’t like the parts leading up to Victor’s bring the monster to life or those immediately afterward. But I adored the portions from the creature’s point of view and learning how he learned to be human, both the good and bad aspects.
I connected with his loneliness and struggle to connect with a world that hated him because of his appearance. I would love to read/watch a story depicting the creature’s journey from barely sentient to eloquent philosopher.
Victor came off as an egotistical bastard, and I was rooting for the creature by the end for how Victor abandoned him and then seeks to destroy him, all because he didn’t bother to teach what is effectively a child how to behave.
Ultimately, I see “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” not as a critique on science gone wrong but a critique on society, humanity, and how we treat the other. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.0.
You should definitely read this if you weren’t assigned it in school.