Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein :: Gothic Mary Shelley Frankenstein Essays

Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein One question, which occurs to most whom have read the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is, which path does the novel follow? Is it that of the Classic Gothic, or of the Modern Gothic genre? Some consider Frankenstein, the first true Modern Gothic novel. Others may disagree; many people consider it a pure combination of Modern and Classic Gothic elements. You may also point out that Frankenstein does not depend entirely on the Gothic genre. Mary Shelly’s upbringing was a struggle. Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) died only eight days after her birth. Her father ignored her after traveling Europe with Percy Shelly. In 1815 Mary gave birth prematurely to a daughter who died soon after. In 1816 she gave birth to a young boy, William. This was the same year, which the book Frankenstein was born, and in it’s early stages. Later that year one of Mary’ half sister committed suicide. Two month’s later Percy Shelly’s wife (Harriet) drowned herself in the serpentine, Hyde Park. Both Mary’s children died soon after the publication of Frankenstein. This may have influenced Mary Shelly’s plot in Frankenstein. She is so traumatized by all the death around her, that she tries to imagine what life would be like if resurrection was possible. If the dead could be brought back to life then surly everything would life would be perfect and there would be no fear of death. Then again without a fear of death, life is meaningless. Everything you do in your life is to satisfy or fulfill yourself in the next. â€Å" In a well organized mind, death is but the next adventure.† from Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone, describing the need for death in society. This is reflected in the novel. Classic Gothic is a straightforward method of frightening the reader. Unlike modern, it's direct. The reader knows that there is a monster, or ghost there. The character may not always be aware of this. Classic Gothic usually contains the fright of monsters or things that shouldn't be. Frankenstein is not set in an old, dull spooky castle, like most Classic Gothic novels, although you could say that it has something quite close to this. Frankenstein's laboratory is a dark, gloomy, damp old room. Most Gothic novels are likely to be set around or in a castle. Nature is used a lot to create atmosphere. The dreary, icy fields of the Alps indicate the isolation of the two main characters. There is also a struggle between good and evil throughout the story: While my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom; Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein :: Gothic Mary Shelley Frankenstein Essays Employing Typical Features of the Gothic Tradition in Frankenstein One question, which occurs to most whom have read the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is, which path does the novel follow? Is it that of the Classic Gothic, or of the Modern Gothic genre? Some consider Frankenstein, the first true Modern Gothic novel. Others may disagree; many people consider it a pure combination of Modern and Classic Gothic elements. You may also point out that Frankenstein does not depend entirely on the Gothic genre. Mary Shelly’s upbringing was a struggle. Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) died only eight days after her birth. Her father ignored her after traveling Europe with Percy Shelly. In 1815 Mary gave birth prematurely to a daughter who died soon after. In 1816 she gave birth to a young boy, William. This was the same year, which the book Frankenstein was born, and in it’s early stages. Later that year one of Mary’ half sister committed suicide. Two month’s later Percy Shelly’s wife (Harriet) drowned herself in the serpentine, Hyde Park. Both Mary’s children died soon after the publication of Frankenstein. This may have influenced Mary Shelly’s plot in Frankenstein. She is so traumatized by all the death around her, that she tries to imagine what life would be like if resurrection was possible. If the dead could be brought back to life then surly everything would life would be perfect and there would be no fear of death. Then again without a fear of death, life is meaningless. Everything you do in your life is to satisfy or fulfill yourself in the next. â€Å" In a well organized mind, death is but the next adventure.† from Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone, describing the need for death in society. This is reflected in the novel. Classic Gothic is a straightforward method of frightening the reader. Unlike modern, it's direct. The reader knows that there is a monster, or ghost there. The character may not always be aware of this. Classic Gothic usually contains the fright of monsters or things that shouldn't be. Frankenstein is not set in an old, dull spooky castle, like most Classic Gothic novels, although you could say that it has something quite close to this. Frankenstein's laboratory is a dark, gloomy, damp old room. Most Gothic novels are likely to be set around or in a castle. Nature is used a lot to create atmosphere. The dreary, icy fields of the Alps indicate the isolation of the two main characters. There is also a struggle between good and evil throughout the story: While my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom;