Frankenstein Book Review

Grant Lopez
Jan 15
7 min read

Introduction:

Ergh. This is the first thing that usually comes to everyone’s mind when they hear the name Frankenstein. A big green monster, nuts and bolts sticking out of its skin, walking on tin legs with arms stretched outward, speaking in inarticulate grunts and groans. This was not Mary Shelley’s intention when she sat down to write this acclaimed, yet controversial novel. Released in 1818 (whoa, that was hecka long ago), Shelley published her work anonymously–many believing it was her husband, Percy, who wrote the book. Sadly, women often wrote under an assumed name. They feared judgment, leading them to believe no one would read their book or give it much thought. This wasn’t just in the field of literature, as women faced much strife and prejudice. (Wait, I thought this was a book review, not a lecture on women’s history). Frankenstein was initially met with backlash from critics and the public as a whole, leading Shelley to rewrite her work, with a new version being released in 1831. This review will focus on the original version.

Mary Shelley was born in 1797 in London, England. She began writing Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus at the young age of 18. This book is classified as a Gothic horror novel, although it is arguably the first science fiction work. According to the novel’s historical background, she, her future husband, Percy Shelley, and their friend Lord Byron made a friendly competition to see who could write the best ghost story. Shelley pondered on an idea, wanting to “make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart” (Shelley, 13). The idea came to her in a dream. Shelley had traveled through Europe a couple of years before. Among her travels, she came upon Gernsheim, Germany, which is home to a castle known as Burg Frankenstein. Apparently, an alchemist named Johann Konrad Dippel performed questionable experiments here, including dissecting bodies. Dippel was accused of being a grave robber as well. There is no known evidence of a connection to Shelley’s work (Bowen).

Shelley pondered on an idea, wanting to "make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart" (Shelley, 13).

Summary:

Set in 1700 England, Shelley opens her novel with a series of letters written by an explorer named Robert Walton addressed to his sister, Margaret. These letters tell of his sights and perils along his journey, which lead to his meeting with Victor Frankenstein, who is totally desolate. Victor begins to tell Robert of his story that has led him to this frail and broken state. Victor always had a thirst for knowledge, ultimately leading him to attend the prestigious Ingolstadt University in Germany. After suffering what he describes as “the first misfortune” (Shelley, 36) of his life, an idea grew in his mind of creating a being capable of withstanding illness and pain. This unfortunate event foreshadows what Victor describes as his “future misery” (Shelley, 36). Victor became unrelenting in this task, gathering body parts from cemeteries and using the scientific instruments available to him at Ingolstadt. He ultimately completes this task. He quickly regretted this once he laid eyes on the horrifying image of the being he created. Known as the Creature, the being comes to resent his creator and his life as a whole. As his pain grows, he makes a stern promise to make Victor suffer the way he has suffered (Shelley, 100). The tension between Victor and the Creature continues to build to the climax.

Characters:

Victor Frankenstein:

Victor is an ambitious, yet self-centered, scientist. As a child, he was an avid reader with a passion for knowledge. He becomes consumed with his own aspirations, most notably the concept of reanimation. His actions of creating life and inner turmoil drive the plot. He is known as a tragic hero: a flawed character whose actions lead to their own downfall.

The Creature:

The Creature is brought into this world by Victor. He is a sensitive being who longs for connection. He possesses brute strength and agility. He is quickly abandoned by Victor, someone he views as a father figure and protector. He faces persecution because of his appearance. He lives a life of isolation and severe loneliness.

Robert Walton:

Walton is an arctic explorer whom the reader meets at the very beginning of the story through letters. He strives to attain great success through exploration. On his expedition, he meets Victor, who recounts his story. He and Victor share the same level of ambition– endearing Walton to Victor. Walton is the primary source of information in the book. It can be argued that he, too, is ice-o-lated (sorry).

Elizabeth Lavenza:

Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin. They have always been close since they were little. Victor develops romantic feelings for her and wishes to marry her. She is a homemaker and nurturing caretaker of Victor’s siblings, following traditional norms of the era. She is compassionate and holds a strong desire for Victor to be happy.

Henry Clerval:

Clerval is a close, trusted friend of Victor. He is loyal to a fault. His kindness knows no bounds. He sticks with Victor through thick and thin. Henry puts others’ needs before his own and acts as a foil to Victor.

What the Novel Does Well:

Mary Shelley’s use of the unreliable narrator is a strong literary device in her novel. She is using a frame narrative structure with three different characters telling the story. Narrators are often portrayed as untrustworthy or unreliable in literature because their bias gets in the way of the truth. Victor is a good example of this, as he is full of regret and is in a constant state of mental strife. Victor views the Creature as a horrendous mistake.

The Creature, too, is unreliable. Anger and rejection are his driving forces. The Creature considers himself “thy Adam” (Shelley, 72) and feels abandoned by Victor. The Creature feels like a “fallen angel” (Shelley, 72). Despite his questionable acts, he considers himself a victim left with no other choice. The Creature lives in isolation and loneliness. The Creature’s story is told through interactions he had with Victor, which Victor is recounting to Walton, so more emotion could have been felt by the Creature, but Victor’s deep regret blinds him.

Walton is the main narrator, but also not entirely trustworthy. He is on the outside looking in. Walton is taking Victor’s word as the truth. Through this frame narrative, Shelley is placing the Creature’s point of view at the very back of the story, strengthening the theme of the Creature’s isolation and persecution.

Another thing that comes to mind when people think of Frankenstein is the physical act of the Creature's creation. Lighting, big cables, a huge table, a wide-eyed scientist–something seen in even the most recent Netflix adaptation. In the novel, a description of how the creature was actually created is just glossed over (perhaps because Victor would rather not relive this moment). The creation scenes seen in film are very entertaining, nonetheless. One can argue that Victor is suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) throughout the novel due to his avoidance behavior.

What the Novel Does not do so Well:

The only thing about this book that I felt wasn’t great is that it has some pacing issues. The story at times feels like it’s not moving forward, and other times it feels like it’s moving a little too fast. Especially the ending, which feels a bit rushed.

Audio Version:

I like to listen to books as I follow along page by page. I find that this keeps me focused on the story and prevents me from re-reading the same sentence again and again. In turn, I can get through books more quickly. I also find myself fully enthralled by the story and can picture it more clearly. The audio version of Frankenstein I listened to was read by Jamie Bell, known for Billy Elliot, on Audible. I felt his performance was outstanding. He adds even more depth to the characters, truly conveying their pain and grief.

Writing Style:

Shelley’s writing style is unique. I would describe it as being dense. Her use of sophisticated, elegant language may be jarring to readers unfamiliar with classical literature. From the opening letters to Victor’s narration, the words and feel are poignant. Even the Creature speaks profoundly. Shelley’s imagery creates a dark, somber mood that lasts throughout the novel. This is especially felt in the interactions between Victor and the Creature. In one instance, Victor comes upon the Creature at a glacier. Victor is seeking a moment of solitude but is interrupted by the Creature, creating a stark contrast between the serene mountainscape and the grotesque image of Victor’s creation.

As I mentioned at the start, a misconception about Frankenstein is that the monster just makes odd sounds. It should be noted that one movie sticks closer to its source material than any other: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Throughout the book, we find that the Creature speaks and also feels deeply.

There are a few words, in different forms, that Shelley repeats throughout the book, such as ardour (British spelling) and wretch. Ardor, meaning passion or enthusiasm, describes Victor’s unrelenting persistence. The double meaning of Wretch: a miserable person, or a despicable person (no, not Gru), perfectly describes both Victor and the Creature. Victor is a wretch in the sense that he is someone of great misfortune. The Creature is a wretch in the sense that he is known for committing heinous acts. Shelley’s overuse of words is not due to a narrow lexicon, but to convey themes of obsession and suffering.

Recommendation:

I would recommend this book to just about anyone, especially for those who appreciate classic literature. It is similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula. These works are both Gothic horror novels written in the 1800s; both use letters as a plot device and address questions about science and humanity.

Works Cited:

Shelley, Mary W. Frankenstein. 1818 ed., Millennium Publications, 2014, pp. 13-100.

Bowen, Kristy. Frankenstein Castle in Germany | Overview & History. Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/frankenstein-castle-in-germany-its-influence-on-mary-shelley.html.

Woroner, Ken. 2025, www.netflix.com/tudum/galleries/frankenstein-first-look-photo-gallery?mediaIndex=4