Frankenstein as a gothic novel Essay - 903 Words

Frankenstein as a gothic novel The gothic tradition highlights the grotesque, relies on mysterious and remote settings, and is intended to evoke fear. All of these are evident in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, especially in chapter five. The settings in the novel are striking and distinctively gothic. Appropriately, the creature first breathes on a dreary night of November, in a remote laboratory at Ingolstadt. The eerie atmosphere is typical of the gothic tradition. Victor, unafraid of the dark, spends his time in vaults and charnel-houses,† he boldly visits the cemetery at the dead of night. details such as the creaking doors, the soft blowing of the wind in the still of the night, and the quiet footsteps in the house†¦show more content†¦The symbol of light, introduced in Walton’s first letter (â€Å"What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?†), appears again in Victor’s narrative, this time in a scientific context. â€Å"From the midst of this darkness,† Victor says when describing his discovery of the secret of life, â€Å"a sudden light broke in upon me—a light so brilliant and wondrous.† Light reveals, illuminates, clarifies; it is essential for seeing, and seeing is the way to knowledge. Just as light can illuminate, however, so can it blind; pleasantly warm at moderate levels, it ignites dangerous flames at higher ones. Immediately after his first metaphorical use of light as a symbol of knowledge, Victor retreats into secrecy and warns Walton of â€Å"how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.† Thus, light is balanced always by fire, the promise of new discovery by the danger of unpredictable—and perhaps tragic—consequences. The theme of secrecy manifests itself in these chapters, as Victor’s studies draw him farther and farther away from those who love and advise him. He con ducts his experiments alone, following the example of the ancient alchemists, who jealously guarded their secrets, andShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein as a Gothic Novel Essay1332 Words   |  6 Pagesthemes: these are elements of a Gothic novel. Though Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, written in the early 19th century, certainly contains many components of a Gothic novel, can it be correctly grouped under that genre? A definition of a Gothic novel; according to Tracy, is a description of a fallen world. 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English Iv. 5 December 2016.1174 Words   |  5 Pages5 December 2016 Gothic Influences within Frankenstein Gothic has its origins from the Germanic tribes who invaded and plundered Rome and other European nations during the third, fourth, and fifth centuries. The word Gothic became connected to words like barbaric and savage and was integrated into the Middle ages due to the time period itself being referred to as unenlightened and superstitious (Architecture). Its first entrance into literature occurred in Horace Walpole’s novel The Castle of OtrantoRead MoreElements And Gothic Elements In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein904 Words   |  4 PagesFrankenstein: Gothic Elements In the Gothic novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley begins with the narrative of Captain Walton and transitions into Victor Frankensteins story. In both narratives, Mary Shelley is able to incorporate many themes such as intense emotions, the supernatural, nature, horror, and death to create one of the finest Gothic novels. 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