Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by Mary Shelley and first published in 1818.
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| An illustration form Frankenstein PDF |
The story follows Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life. After years of research and experimentation, he succeeds in bringing a creature to life, but is horrified by its appearance and abandons it.
The creature, rejected by its creator and society, seeks revenge on Frankenstein by killing those he loves. As the novel unfolds, the creature becomes increasingly isolated and desperate, while Frankenstein is consumed by guilt and regret for his actions. The two characters are locked in a tragic battle of wills, with neither able to find peace or redemption.
Through the story of Frankenstein and his creature, Shelley explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing god. The novel raises questions about the limits of scientific knowledge and the ethical implications of creating life. It also delves into the complexities of human nature, showing how both Frankenstein and the creature are shaped by their experiences and choices.
Frankenstein is often considered a classic of gothic literature, known for its haunting atmosphere and moral ambiguity. It has inspired numerous adaptations and retellings in various forms of media, cementing its status as a timeless and thought-provoking work. Shelley's novel continues to captivate readers with its exploration of the darker aspects of human nature and the dangers of unchecked ambition.
From the introduction :
The Hindoos give the world an elephant to support it, but they make the elephant stand upon a tortoise.
Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos ; the materials must, in the first place, be afforded : it can give form to dark, shapeless substances, but cannot bring into being the substance itself. In all matters of discovery and invention, even of those that appertain to the imagination, we are continually reminded of the story of Columbus and his egg.
Invention consists in the capacity of seizing on the capabilities of a subject, and in the power of moulding and fashioning ideas suggested to it.
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