Subliminal Context of Horror within Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

In Mary Shelley's gothic novel Frankenstein, Shelley introduces a Creature who represents many symbols throughout the story. Such as the war between passion and responsibility, the effects of a corrupt society, and the Creature is a symbol of nature vs. nurture . through this Creature we see mainly the effects of society on an abandoned, innocent being and how it matures in the story fending for itself against society as a whole.

The most frightening horror story can only be called such if it is believable. Nothing is so unnerving as lying awake at night with very real fears. No monster can harm you, unless the monster was genetically engineered by a mad scientist. The theme of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - scientific investigation without consideration of morality and responsibility - is a very relevant topic in today's world. This theme, along with the less obvious themes of revenge, prejudice against deviation from the norm, and fate all make Frankenstein one of the most unique and terrifying horror novels ever.

As one of the first gothic novels Frankenstein explores the darker side of human nature, ambitions, and the human mind.

In Glory, the primary muse of the movie is reviewing the period of time that included the first idea of the Emancipation Proclamation. Many African Americans were enlisted as troop to first serve manual labor until a dedicated Colonel encouraged those to involve the men in war that they have been preparing for. The characters embodied in the film acted historically accurate compared to those that lived during the actual time period. Considering that the movie was mainly based on the growing of the colored troops that gave up their freedom to fight in war, Glory was built ideologically to pertain to a sole point. Glory displays an exclusive point of view solely from the colored soldiers as well as the officers about the prime historical event

Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” If not one would answer, “Always read a book cover to cover before you make judgments.” Frankenstein is one such book. While Frankenstein is a book about a monster terrifying a city it is also about compassion, love and friendship. After reading the book you would discover Frankenstein, the monster, is a loving creature with feelings and wants to become a part of society.

What differentiates Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein from the majority of horror novels are the very real and timeless themes it explores.  The overriding theme of the novel - scientific investigation without consideration of morality and responsibility is still an important topic in today’s world.  “Perhaps the reality of cloning and genetic engineering makes this theme more relevant today than when Frankenstein was first published”(Patterson). This theme, along with the more subtle themes of revenge, the inability to accept those who are different, and the inability to control one's destiny are all themes which separate Frankenstein from other novels in the genre.

Frankenstein has become a symbol in contemporary society. Upon hearing the name, one might imagine a tall, muscular green man with short black hair, a flat head, and two bolts pierced on both sides of his neck. Although that is the Frankenstein present now, the modern Frankenstein is only an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s original creature. Shelley’s Frankenstein, 1818, is a gothic novel in which she tells the tale of a man creating life. This creation of Victor Frankenstein’s monster eventually hurt the people he held dear. Following the popularity of the book, James Whale directed Frankenstein, in 1931, which started the movement of Frankenstein’s contemporary image. While in comparison to the novel’s questionable identity of the monster,

Being seen as conventionally attractive can lead to a specious appearance of likability and trustworthiness. Expressions such as “it is the prettiest ones that break your heart” or “it is the ones you least expect that betray you” permeate conversations and shape perceptions. It seems that appearance plays a large role in the way people are initially perceived. This may seem unfair to those not genetically gifted, but it can be used to one’s advantage. As Stephen King put it, “the trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” Similarly in “Lamb to the Slaughter”, Roald Dahl asserts that the apparently innocent are often underestimated. Dahl expresses this through his portrayal of stony calmness with which Mary Maloney kills her husband and through the irony in her ingenuity covering it up.

Mary Shelley utilizes figurative language in this excerpt to describe the surroundings of Frankenstein on his journey home and set the tone of gloomy, because of his brother’s death. Shelley uses personification to express the pattern of the raindrops as “violence quickly increasing” as if the raindrops were a person becoming very violent. This figurative language device develops the tone by tying into the violent actions of whoever murdered William, Frankenstein’s brother. Shelley uses the figurative language device of simile to compare the weather of nature such as, “vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes, illuminating the lake, making it appear like a vast sheet of fire”. Shelley begins the sentence with a cheerful tone then takes a

In todays world, humans are constantly striving to find the “next big thing”, which is what we should work for, right? In Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor attempts to achieve the next step in his scientific progression, which is creating life from the dead. Dr. Frankenstein eventually comes up with a “Zombie”, if you will, that can think and act for itself. Does he finally achieve his potential or kill himself in the process?

Most of us have read the novel Frankenstein. There are many themes that come along with one of the first gothic, romantic science fiction novels of the 17th century. Mary Shelly used her background life to create this horror book. She influenced future horror films for decades to come, Halloween costume ideas and quote upon quotes. Although this book carried the obvious Halloween-feel themes Shelly had a greater meaning for the book. Shelly believed in the need of human connections and the importance for a person’s actions and for a person’s relationship with others. This novel held dangerous knowledge and how knowledge can affect a community, sublime nature and the soothing affects it has when a person

In Marry Shelly’s Frankenstein, perception plays a key part in the monsters’ icy demise. Not only is the story affected by how the villagers perceive the monster, but the readers’ perception, like in any literary work, plays the role of ultimate judge.

If there is one theme that the gothic novel Frankenstein expresses it is humanity. Throughout the text we are shown example after example of the little things that define humanity: curiosity, love, and mistakes.

Note that most of the murders that took place in the story that the monster committed were incited because the monster was looking for someone who wouldn’t judge him by his cover. For example look at the murder of Victor’s brother William. The monster came to him because he believed that he wouldn’t judge him and William would consider him a friend because he was still at the age that you can be friends with anyone. “Frankenstein is a horrific novel which features a normally kind and gentle monster. In fact the only thing that Mary Shelley does right as far as scary stories goes is making the monster defiant. One of these acts of defiance was in chapter twenty when the monster says, “You are my creator, but I am your master—obey!”(The monster, Ch. 20) This to me is the only contributor to the element of horror in this novel. To me the otherwise gentle monster really takes away any elements of horror initially inspired before I read the book.

“What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The