Frankenstein; The Difference a Smart Monster Can Make
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein definitely was a culture shock
to me; I’d heard from friends that the novel differed almost entirely from the
classic blockbuster movies popularized by Hollywood, but I wasn’t entirely sure
just how much had changed. Experiencing the monster as an intelligent,
manipulative, frightfully aware creature rather than a bumbling human rag-doll definitely
heightened the story for me.
In terms of horror vs.
terror, it solidified the distinction between the two interpretations, with the
movies being more of an “affront to nature” fear of the unknown, and the novel focusing
on the absolute horror of Frankenstein willingly creating something that can
surpass humanity’s skills and intelligence, and then being manipulated by it
even after he’s attempted to abandon the task.
One of the clearest reoccurring
moments in the story with that horror was seeing the monster’s fiendish grin
whenever he checked in on Frankenstein; it perfectly caught the essence of “the
sublime” that’s often prevalent in gothic horror. The smile itself isn’t particularly
horrifying, rather the implication that the monster relishes in Frankenstein’s
anguish, that he’s thinking and aware of his actions as he learns. It was just
something I felt really captured what made the story particularly unsettling;
the desire to create life, only to have it wake and look back at you with wide,
intelligent, eyes and smile.
Playing with intelligent
monsters is one of my favorite things to see in media, it just seems ten times
more compelling than an empty description of “oh no, there’s an ugly monster
that we don’t like because he’s different,” simply because they’re given a purpose
other than scare factor when they’re given intelligence. Mary Shelley’s choice
to make the Monster, a clear representation of our own macabre fascination with
the unknown, aware that he’s a product of the seduction of the dark side and
then use that awareness to manipulate
Frankenstein was wonderfully executed within the gothic genre, and something I
won’t forget any time soon in terms of horror.
Couldn't agree more! Frankenstein is definitely one of those books people need to read in order to understand the true meaning of a gothic novel. It's not meant to give you the creeps because there's an ugly monster. In this case, for example, it's meant to show you the scary possibility of having omnipotent power that can end up damaging your own humanity.
ReplyDeleteI've never watched any Frankenstein movies so while reading the novel, I didn't take much notice to the intelligence of the monster. It's interesting how your frame of reference really influenced your experience.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that the monster was intelligent also becomes more challenging to the audience. The more like us the monster is, the more we are pushed to question if we could be capable of such horrible acts. Making the monster "brainless" would be cheap and would separate him from reflecting us in any way.
When there is a choice, it brings up moral questions. it makes us ask why someone who has the intellect to discern right from wrong would choose something so "evil". Was it right for the monster to seek revenge?