Frankenstein Annotated Bibliography Essay

First published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein busted its way into popularity as one of the first science-fiction novels. As Shelley trudged her way into the literary canon, Frankenstein’s preliminary success was surpassed by a wave of Frankenstein-esque characters. Shelley’s great influence and success caused a whirlwind of Frankenstein references throughout pop culture. The many allusions to Frankenstein in pop culture arguably molded the text into a cult classic; inevitably making it’s mark on literature and the arts for centuries. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein influenced and inspired numerous beloved characters, portrayals, and adaptations in America’s pop culture.

The monster killed Elizabeth, The assassination of Elizabeth Lavenza occurred on the night that she got married.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has become the archetypal gothic novel. With its combining of gothic and romantic themes set the tone of the narrative. While DC Comics the Batman being known as one of the more darker and popular of their superhero line up. Sparking many movies and TV shows based on the adventures of the caped crusader; including the 2005 movie Batman Begins. This movie, retelling the origins of Batman shares many of the same themes with the novel of Frankenstein. From the romantic views of nature to gothic tones of fear and obsession.

“Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be they Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel. Whom thou drive from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded…” (87)

In order to protect the view he holds of himself, which stems from his god complex, Victor Frankenstein uses rationalization to shelter himself from the guilt derived from his indirect involvement with the murders of William and Justine. In allowing young Justine to confess to the murder of William, though she is innocent, Frankenstein experiences conflicted emotions. Victor writes that “such a declaration [of who the true criminal was] would have been considered as the ravings of a madman,” (Shelly 86). This rationalization of not telling the truth is because of his inability to take responsibility for his actions. In the same passage, Frankenstein describes the guilt and sadness he feels as “fangs of remorse” (86). Typically, fangs are used

We also learn in chapter six that Elizabeth is worried about Victor’s illness and keeps nagging him about it. In chapter seven Victor gets a letter from his father with some very bad news. It appears somebody has murdered his little brother William. Victor imdeiatly leaves for Geneva but when he arrives the gates are closed, Victor then decides to walk around the woods near the gates when he sees the monster hiding behind a tree and constantly blames the monster for William’s death. When Victor walks into town the next morning he hears that Justine is being accused of murder, but Elizabeth and Victor both know she is innocent. Victor does not want to tell anyone what he thinks because he does not want to seem crazy. In chapter eight  Justine confesses to her crime so that she can avoid going to hell and is then executed. In chapters nine and ten Victor is feeling down so he takes a trip to Montanvert, hoping that the view of nature and it’s purity will make him feel

1. Victor’s problem when he created Frankenstein, a monster made of human parts. Victor's problem is after he created Frankenstein he sees it as a monstrosity. Frankenstein horrors victor. His creation horrors him so much he takes to the streets instead of his home. Victor shortly after falls ill.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. Hunter, Paul J. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. North & Company, 2012. Print.

a scientist devoured by ambition, seeks to revive life to the deceased. Thus, a horrific monster is created. Terrified of its unsightly stature, Dr Frankenstein flees his creation, neglecting it severely a result, the monster. Lonely and depressed, seeks revenge on his creator, killing several members of his family and his closest friend. Throughout shelley uses imagery and toner to amplify the horror

Over the past century, Frankenstein has been analyzed and interpreted in seemingly infinite different forms of literature, film, and television shows. Once solely recognized as the story about a brilliant scientist who creates a creature in whom he regrets making after the creature turns out ugly, Frankenstein now represents an internationally recognized and commercialized pop culture symbol for Halloween decorations and costumes. When analyzing and appreciating the true literary essence behind Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein, one of the most important comparisons to consider remains the underlying influences behind the Creature’s immoral actions and whether or not the blame for these actions belong to Victor or the Creature.

An eye for an eye or the law of retaliation is the principle most people live their lives by. As Gandhi once stated, “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” (Gandhi). For the characters in Frankenstein, this concept is apparent as the main character, Victor, creates a monster and instantly abandons him which sets off the chain of events revolving around revenge. Throughout the novel, the creature and Victor engage in a recurring cycle of vengeance, but these acts of revenge are bittersweet as in the end it destroys both of them. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley reveals how revenge consumes and destroys those who surrender to it.

heavily pursue knowledge and create his monster, clearly showing that the path that he embarked

reation enslave him and spends from the moment he brings the creature to life to the day he dies running from the bondage he unintentionally creates.

In James Davis’ literary essay “Frankenstein and the Subversion of the Masculine Voice,” he discusses the oppression of women and the minor roles of females in Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein. With a feminist perspective, Davis claims, “He [Victor Frankenstein] oppresses female generation of life and of text; he rends apart both the physical and the rhetorical ‘form’ of female creativity. In fact, all three male narrators attempt to subvert the feminine voice, even in those brief moments when they tell the women’s stories” (307). Throughout his essay, Davis demonstrates the underlying message of Shelly’s subversion towards men and the social consequences of misogyny.

“Had I a right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?” These words of Victor perfectly explicate the generic views on women during Shelley’s time, which helped in the creation of her novel, Frankenstein, by means of positing questions on female roles and their significance in society then and now. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus is a renowned classic tale of a man-made creature pursuing for its approval in society undeterred by his malformed appearance and bizarre beginnings. By educating himself in the form of scrutinizing normative human behavior, he gradually feels his belonging in society even though the harsh rejection of his unconventional features at the end results