Essay on Frankenstein as Gothic Literature - 3563 Words

In what ways can Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Be considered as a Gothic novel? Can Gothic literature still appeal to us today? Gothic Literature was most popular from about 1764 until 1832, a period of nearly seventy years. At this time there were many successful and famous authors who wrote books which contained a somewhat gothic theme. These include the famous Brontà « Sisters with the novels Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, both of which can be found on many modern bookshelves of today. As well as the famous sisters, well know authors, of the time, also included Ann Radcliffe with her Mysteries of Udolpho and Horace Walpoles The Castle of Otranto. Amongst the most famous Gothic writers Mary Shelley can also be found†¦show more content†¦This is shown through the treatment of a certain character within the book. When deciding whether Shelleys Frankenstein can be considered a Gothic novel we have to take into account each aspect of a typical Gothic novel and compare it with Shelleys work. In a Gothic novel the setting in which the story has been told usually consists of a grand castle, (or similar) which may be isolated or at least very mysterious. The setting may seem dark and eerie and certainly not familiar. It may also be described as being majestic and almost medieval in a way. In Frankenstein the tale is not set in one lone place but in many different and sometimes peculiar settings. For example, when Victor Frankenstein starts work on his monster he is said to be working in: a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all other apartments by a gallery and staircase This produces an image of a hideous workshop in which Victor is creating another human being of a very different kind. The fact that is has been called a cell makes it enclosed and almost hellish because one would associate a cell with a prison in which you would be locked and confined. As well as this, later on in the novel, when Victor travels with Henry Clerval back to England, the place in which they visit is described as being a: majestic assemblageShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein Gothic Literature Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesThe novel Frankenstein falls under two different genres of literature: Gothic novel and Science fiction; however, some people consider it a Romance novel or Horror fiction. Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, was 18 years old when she wrote the book in 1816. The book was first published in 1818 and revised in 1831. Mary Shelley was born in 1797. 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Additionally, the authors status as an assistant professor helps to imbue this work with a degree