I have determined that it would be wise for me to take some time to collect, write down, and perhaps communicate my thoughts when I have finished reading a book. This is the first installment in this series; more should be posted as I read more books.

About a week ago, I finished reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A rather interesting book, it.

For those who may not be familiar with it, the basic story is that a young man, Victor Frankenstein, became obsessed with the prospect of creating life. This finally culminated in the creation of a oversized man-like creature who turned out to be a monster.

Literary Thoughts

The tale of Frankenstein is told with a significant amount of what seems like melodrama. Initially, this was a little offputting — “Life isn’t this good,” I found myself thinking as the tale of Victor’s blissful childhood was related.

Later, however, this turned out to not be a problem or a detriment. The exceeding joy and unstained happiness of Frankenstein’s upbringing provided a strong contrast with the unspeakable tragedy which would befall him later in life. Further, the pain and suffering he experienced would have erased all memory of any less-than-wonderful experiences in childhood, and the story is told as his recollection of his life to a ship captain.

Moral Thoughts

A significant issue in Frankenstein is the duty of a creator to its creation. Perhaps duty is the wrong word, but it is the framework in which the book deals with the issue. I will therefore retain it here.

The monster didn’t start out a monster. Initially, Frankenstein’s creation wanted to love and be loved. The cruel treatment he received by humanity, and particularly by Victor, formed him into what he was. He determined that, if he would get nothing but cruelty, he would bestow cruelty.

But even in that, he didn’t want to destroy the world. He offered to quit society, if only he could have one who would love him. Yet still Victor slighted him. He wasn’t given a chance to love, to know love, to be anything other than a monster and a demon.

Closing

The story made me glad that God, and not Victor Frankenstein, is our creator. He created Adam in the garden, and gave him companionship and freedom and food and everything good. When Adam chose to rebel, then the relationship soured, but God was not to blame. God then proceeded to reach out to His creation, offering His son to buy back mankind. Victor does no such thing, but is rather hard with his creature. Not such a cool situation.