Frankenstein

I must say that I am really enjoying this book. The way Mary Shelley describes the events are really interesting and it makes for a fun read. It’s hard to believe that this was her first book because it’s so well-made!

There are a couple of things that I am confused about. The letters in the beginning of the novel threw me off a bit. Who is the man writing these letters? And why is he telling this to his sister? What was he in search of? The man that he met on the frozen lake, was that Victor Frankenstein? And the large man that they saw in the distance, was that the monster that Victor created? I wonder if the man that wrote the letters has anything to do with the story later on. I also get confused with the members of the Frankenstein family. I know that Victor was their first child, then they had Elizabeth; however, she was adopted, I think. Then they also adopted William? Or did they have William? This is the part that I get confused about. Then they found Justine, who they made their servant, but not in a bad way. They described Justine’s duty as, “not [including] the idea of ignorance, and a sacrifice of the dignity of a human being” (Shelley 61). It seems like the Frankenstein family is really close and they all help each other in some way. When Victor becomes ill, his family writes to him often, and they seem really worried about him. Then Clerval, Victor’s friend, comes to visit him and he helps Victor regain his sanity. This friendship and closeness of their family reminds me of my family. My family is also really close, and even though we live far apart, we always find a way to keep in touch.

I must say that the way this book is going is a lot different from the way I pictured Frankenstein to be. I always imagined a crazed scientist flicking a switch and screaming, “It’s alive, it’s alive!” It’s actually a lot different from that and a lot more realistic. I think the evolution of Victor into his crazed manner was really well thought out. I was so convinced of his madness and the way he became obsessed with science and learning every single aspect of it.

So far, I think that Frankenstein (or the monster because he is not officially named Frankenstein yet) is responsible for the murder of William. There’s no doubt about it because Justine is so obviously innocent. She was basically a mother to William and I do not think she would do something like that. I think that Frankenstein ran away and he didn’t know any better and maybe he killed young William on accident. I kind of picture it like being Lennie in Of Mice and Men. I think Frankenstein might not realize his strength so I come to the conclusion that the murder was an accident. I think that Frankenstein might be greatly misunderstood like Grendel.
I really like the novel so far. It’s surprisingly realistic and it’s very suspenseful. I can’t wait to see what happens next!