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Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Essay

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Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818. The story tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein who creates a creature out of different body parts. Somehow, the creature, who was created to be 'beautiful', turns out to be hideous. In fear, Frankenstein runs away and the creation escapes. Once escaped, the creation and Frankenstein both seek vengeance upon each other.

The story is written in 1st person narrative …show more content…

Therefore they must read on to find out what has occurred. Mystery is introduced into the novel, by the fact that the ship the Captain is writing from is 'nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides.' This sets the scene and is a typical Gothic setting, as many Gothic Horror novels are set in an isolated place, as this is. The Captain's ship is also surrounded 'by a very thick fog' which further enhances the sense of isolation, typical of Gothic novel settings. Mary Shelley uses words such as 'surrounded', 'dangerous' and 'closed in' to enable the reader to understand the situation the Captain and his men are in. The reader knows that something is going to happen, but doesn't know what. This adds to the mystery and tension that the novel has already placed upon the reader. A sense of anticipation of possible disaster is introduced. 'The plains of ice' described could represent the colour of death, as when people die the colour fades from their skin, leaving them a white-grey colour - thus suggesting an impending death.

When the Captain sees 'a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature', it leaves doubt in the readers'

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