Mary Shelley uses the supernatural to symbolise the possible outcomes of scientific advancements and their inevitable risks. “After some time, my wound healed, and I continued my journey.” The monster seems to be immune to diseases and infections, when a human would surely perish without medical assistance. Even when he is severely injured, he continues to live. The monster’s super human capabilities are further evident after he is shot by a rustic after saving a girl from drowning. “I suddenly beheld the figure of a man advancing towards me with superhuman speed.” An instance of the monster being portrayed as a supernatural creature is in the words of Victor Frankenstein himself. The monsters physical power exceeds that of human being and it is virtually unaffected by harsh weather conditions, which renders it superhuman. The monster’s creation occurs in an unnatural way, under mysterious circumstances, and can therefore only be supernatural. Frankenstein succeeds “in discovering the cause of generation and life” and claims to be able to animate matter with “a spark of being”. She employs the supernatural elements of restoring life to the deceased and the research into an unexplored territory of science.

Mary Shelley uses the supernatural to question the power of science and the unforeseen risks of knowledge and technological advancements. The subtitle The Modern Prometheus is a clue to story’s message opposing dangerous Knowledge. The character of Victor Frankenstein is one that delves into the realities of dangerous knowledge. The supernatural is central aspect prevalent within the novel. Dangerous knowledge is something which Mary Shelley explores. Mary Shelley uses the features of gothic literature to challenge the views of society, through the story of Frankenstein.

The features of gothic literature which include monsters, death and gloomy settings, provided writers ways to explore and question the unknown. It was written during the spread of the industrial revolution throughout Europe, in a time of discovery and exploration in the fields of science, religion, and industry.

The poet Lord Byron challenged each of his friends to write gruelling horror stories, hence Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was born.įrankenstein was among the first gothic novels. The classic tale was written 200 years ago on a rainy afternoon in 1817 in Geneva, where Mary Shelley was staying with her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley and their friend Lord Byron. It is frequently referred to as the very first work of science fiction and one of the greatest horror novels ever. Mary Shelley was a 19th century novelist and short story writer most famous for her gothic Novel Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus, which she wrote when she was only 19 years old. Deemed loathsome by its creator, the creature develops a thirst for vengeance and proceeds to slaughter everyone Victor holds dear. He pieces together a man-like creature, 8 feet tall, whose ghastly appearance labels it an abomination to all mankind. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a cautionary tale which follows an inquisitive scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who becomes fascinated by the prospect of reanimating the inanimate and seeks to fabricate artificial life.

Supernatural gothic literature