Reflections on Shelly’s Frankenstein @LMM

On the brink of finishing this novel, for the second time, I’m amazed to think it was written by a young woman just barely out of her teens and during an unusual historical period.  

The gamut of themes it covers is mind boggling. In a nutshell, we the reader experience birth, life, and death in the most intense way. 

As I re-read this narrative, I could feel the anguish of the main characters, Victor Frankenstein the scientist and his creature. It stirred up feelings of fear, hatred, and guilt as well as confusion.

How often do we fear what we don’t understand? How often are we repulsed by ugliness? How often do we try to excuse our unbecoming behavior towards others? 

Fear can overcome us and prevent us from doing what is right. If Frankenstein the scientist was fearful of what he had created, shouldn’t he have had the courage to destroy it? He wanted to reject his creation but couldn’t come to terms with his feelings. 

We humans turn away from those whose physical deformities we cannot tolerate. They disgust us. We go out of our way to avoid them. We can’t stand the sight of those less fortunate than ourselves. Is it because we can’t or won’t do anything to help? 

How often are we horrified by the actions of others but do nothing to prevent them? We shun what we don’t understand. We invent excuses to cover up our failings.

Are we like Frankenstein? Do we create monsters and run away from them in the hopes that they will go away? Or are we like the creature, hating our creator and our very own existence? 

At times I had to stop reading to get a grip on my emotions especially when I read the part of the murder of young William, the trial and execution of the innocent Justine.  These descriptions  were fraught with tension. But they held a certain fascination.  I felt drawn to the drama and moved by the grotesque nature of mankind. 

How Mary Shelly could conceive these horrors had me intrigued. It brought to my attention how society is quick to judge and condemn the innocent based on flimsy evidence. Was that the idea? To accentuate the flaws of a rigid society? Did Shelly want to emphasize we live in a society that has no compassion? As I read, I realized she could be writing about the present society. I didn’t see much of a difference and it came as a shock. Or maybe not. I’m still not sure. I realize that things don’t change. The events may be different with other characters but the outcome is basically the same.

My reflections on this tale are of a mature adult. I have accumulated years of learning experiences. I’ve gone through many life lessons that have made me the individual that I am today. Re-reading this novel as an older adult has made me aware of our society as a whole. It has brought up so many questions that I haven’t the minimal intelligence to answer. And to be perfectly honest, it has only brought up even more questions.  Questions that may never be answered.

Will we ever become a society which sees Man as a creature to be respected? Will we continue to crush the spirit of those less fortunate? Perhaps one day we will see beyond the physical aspect of a human being and focus more on his spirituality. We might address the issue of the lack of moral values of some. Could we do this? Or is it asking too much?

Note to reader: 

If you want to listen to the essay click here (Podcast Episode 34, originally published July 2, 2021).