Initial Reaction to the Work
The initial thoughts that came to my mind when I chose the novel are that I would be able to learn about the techniques of writing novels that were used in the early 19 th century. These include an insight into the techniques such as themes, settings, and symbols. Another initial thought that came to my mind when I chose the novel is that I could learn scientific ideas that were represented in literary materials such as novels in the 19 th century. Furthermore, I was interested in the understanding the structure of fictional materials from the beginning to the end of the story and the style used by Mary Shelley to end her story.
The aspects of interest that I will focus on during the analysis of the novel are the scientific activities and ideas explained and their outcomes. I will also focus on the challenges encountered by the people in the novel in achieving scientific outcomes. I will also focus on the manner in which different aspects of the story are related to one another such as the manner in which one part of the story affects another part.
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Analysis of the Work
Historical Context
The historical context in which the novel is based is the beginning of industrialization and civilization where a number of discoveries were being made to achieve the present understanding of the world. This is illustrated by events such as the attempt of Walton to find a sea route to the Pacific via the Arctic Ocean, and the attempt of Frankenstein to develop a monster using scientific procedures. This novel is also based on the historical context of the development of modern means of communication such as writing letters as a means of connecting with people from other locations.
Insights into the Work
The main ideas presented in the novel are the attempt of Victor Frankenstein to develop a human from a scientific procedure that involves the use of a combination of chemistry, alchemy, and electricity. Despite having successfully brought the monster to life, he is reluctant to bear the responsibility of it and is unwilling to create a second monster as a companion to it. The monster that Victor has created is effective in performing a number of tasks that can be performed by humans such as reading and has been able to follow the lives of the family he stays with. On the contrary, the monster is impatient with Frankenstein’s unwillingness to develop another monster to provide company to it ( Branagh, Lady & Doyle, 1998) . This results in the decision of Frankenstein to develop a second monster but he changes his mind and opts to dump the components of the second monster into the ocean. This is contrary to the fact that the monster had promised to leave for South America in case his companion was made.
In fury, the monster strangles Elizabeth just before her wedding to Frankenstein. This infuriates Frankenstein and he pursues the monster to the sea but his boat is blown off by the storm after which he is rescued by Walton. The monster appears in the scene and explains his side of the story to Walton but Frankenstein dies due to the impacts of the storm. The monster disappears into the darkness and promises to burn his own pyre.
Insights into the Work from the Author’s Biography
The author’s biography constitutes an important element that enables understanding of its main concepts. From the increased travel experiences of Mary Shelley through Europe in the 19 th century provided her with a number of experiences of scientific activities and discoveries that took place and contributed to industrialization. A significant part of the story also takes place in Geneva which is one of the areas she visited during her travel across Europe. Consequently, it also illustrates the horrific experiences she encountered during her travel to Europe.
Exploration of a Theme
The main theme that is relevant to the novel is the challenge of scientific discovery. It is illustrated that Frankenstein was able to successfully develop a monster with human characteristics but observed that there was a likelihood of a challenge in addressing its needs thus he was reluctant to develop a second one. This resulted in his decision to dispose of the materials he had collected for use in the development of the second monster. Due to his decision not to make a second monster, the first monster opted to revenge on him by strangling Elizabeth to whom he was supposed to wed ( Branagh, Lady & Doyle, 1998) . This resulted in his decision to follow the monster so that he could strangle it. However, he encountered a storm that prevented him from catching the monster in the sea. The story is analogous to the present scientific discoveries that were made in the 19 th century and the 20 th century that was associated with a number of scientific discoveries such as the harm they could cause to the people who developed them.
Relevance of the Work
The novel ‘Frankenstein’ is relevant to the contemporary world due to its role in explaining the scientific developments that were anticipated to occur in the succeeding centuries. It also illustrates the role of one incident in illustrating another incident. This is demonstrated by Frankenstein’s successful development of a monster with human characteristics using a scientific procedure ( Marsh, 2009) . It showed that in future scientific discoveries, it will be possible for scientists to develop human-like creatures using scientific procedures. The novel also illustrates the roles of stories surrounding other stories such as Robert Walton’s letter to his sister that frames the story that Frankenstein tells to Walton, and Frankenstein’s story that surrounds the story that the monster tells, and the monster’s story reframes that De Lacey Family’s story.
Deeper Knowledge Gained from the Work
The main knowledge gained from the novel is that Frankenstein’s Monster is symbolic level for coming of industrialization to Europe. This is illustrated by his involvement in scientific activities that results in the creation of a monster that has human characteristics ( Fuller, 2003) . I also learned of the death of the monster to be a symbol of destructive impacts of industrialization. It was also possible to learn that the attempt to achieve industrialization was developed in different stages such as conception, trials, and implementation. However, the discoverers of the concepts of industrializations encountered challenges such as the inability to address the maintenance requirements of their inventions.
The novel also provides an insight on the relevance of scientific procedures in the development of more complex organisms that have the ability to function as humans. This is an idea that was conceived by Shelley in illustrating the possibility of creating humans using scientific procedures. It also illustrates the uncertainty regarding the ability of humans to meet the needs of the discoveries they were to make in the future such as their impacts on individual safety.
References
Branagh, K., Lady, S., & Doyle, P. (1998). Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Fuller, S. C. (2003). Rea ding the Cyborg in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts , 14(2), 217-227.
Marsh, N. (2009). Mary Shelley: Frankenstein . Palgrave Macmillan.
