Victor Frankenstein Film Analysis

The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a masterpiece that explores the fascination of creating human life from nothing. Since this book was published in 1818, there have been many different recreations of the story throughout these past centuries. The movie Victor Frankenstein directed by Paul McGuigan is one recreation made in 2015 that has an interesting take on the characters in Shelley’s story. (Thesis). In the novel and in the film, there are many differences in the character, Dr. Victor Frankenstein. In the novel Frankenstein wants to create life because he is infatuated with the idea of doing what hasn’t been done before. When the creation finally comes alive, Frankenstein is proud, but shortly after the creations “birth” he finds it hideous and scary: “His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! - Great God! His yellow skin scarcely

Both Frankenstein's are brilliant in the field of science, and show a great deal of dedication to their experiments of creating life. They also think very highly of themselves for attempting the improbable. Shelley’s Victor fantasises about the glory he would receive: “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and poor a torrent of light in our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (55). He fancied the thought of being adored and being seen as a God to a new species. McGuigan's Victor implies the same idea at the end of the movie when he says, “There’s no Satan. No God. Only humanity. Only me!” He challenges that there is no supernatural beings that will reward or punish a person after death. Throughout the movie, he preaches that life is temporary, so death can be, too. He implies that he has a power greater than any other fictional