This year, I reread Mary Shelley’s timeless classic, Frankenstein, for the third time. I stumbled across it for the first time back in 2021, and every time I revisit this iconic work, I seem to take something entirely new from it.
Victor Frankenstein is a young scientist obsessed with creating life, often neglecting his family and friends in order to pursue the creation of something much bigger than himself. He believes his creation will fuel further scientific advances, but when it opens its eyes, Victor is instead filled with disgust.
The dark, atmospheric, and gloomy tone of this novel is what initially pulled me in. I’m a sucker for anything horror and everything creepy. Yet, the further I got into it, the more I realised it is so much more than a scary story.
There is so much to take from this. Mary Shelley presents a creature capable of human speech and feeling, albeit clumsy, who desperately desires to fit in. Frankenstein’s creature admires humanity from afar, yet time and time again, he is met with violence and fear because of the way he looks. After coming to life, he is immediately deemed a monster, and it is not long before he becomes just that.
If you like complex characters and a story with great atmosphere, this is for you! I cannot recommend this enough. This novel is perfect for people looking to dip their toes into horror and the classics!
– Rori, RRL
