The Gothic movement began in the late 18th century, and the style is now very recognizable and definable. As a contrast to the temperate Romantic period, Gothic novels feature strong emotions and less sophisticated plots than their related Romance counterparts do. Frankenstein is just one of the numerous novels in the Gothic style. Mary Shelley employs the common Gothic elements of suspense, supernatural events, intense emotion, women in distress, and pathetic fallacy in her popular novel.
Suspense and mystery are common builds to the plot in Gothic novels and in Frankenstein specifically. As the monster follows Victor Frankenstein on his journey through England, when he will next encounter his creature is mystery to him and to the readers. When the monster does arrive, he threatens Victor after his refusal to create a companion. Now Victor does know when he will next see the creature, but suspense still builds, as Victor appears to await his death on his wedding night. Shelley also employs suspense in the beginning of Frankenstein, particularly as Victor undertakes his creation. The process of constructing the monster entraps both Victor and the readers. As “winter, spring, and summer passed away with [Victor’s] labor,” the anticipation for the success …show more content…
At the time of Shelley’s writing, scientists were beginning to study galvanism and electricity in depth. Mary Shelley heard of the experiments in which bodies convulsed and twitched when shocked with electricity, and she based the events of her novel on these studies. Victor calls the monster the root of all his suffering, so the common Gothic element of supernatural aspects is the center of Shelley’s theme. Electricity is not the source of the soul and life, though. Therefore, Victor’s experiments with electricity will not open “the dull yellow eye of the creature” consisting of human and animal remains as the novel describes (Shelley
Suspense and mystery are common builds to the plot in Gothic novels and in Frankenstein specifically. As the monster follows Victor Frankenstein on his journey through England, when he will next encounter his creature is mystery to him and to the readers. When the monster does arrive, he threatens Victor after his refusal to create a companion. Now Victor does know when he will next see the creature, but suspense still builds, as Victor appears to await his death on his wedding night. Shelley also employs suspense in the beginning of Frankenstein, particularly as Victor undertakes his creation. The process of constructing the monster entraps both Victor and the readers. As “winter, spring, and summer passed away with [Victor’s] labor,” the anticipation for the success …show more content…
At the time of Shelley’s writing, scientists were beginning to study galvanism and electricity in depth. Mary Shelley heard of the experiments in which bodies convulsed and twitched when shocked with electricity, and she based the events of her novel on these studies. Victor calls the monster the root of all his suffering, so the common Gothic element of supernatural aspects is the center of Shelley’s theme. Electricity is not the source of the soul and life, though. Therefore, Victor’s experiments with electricity will not open “the dull yellow eye of the creature” consisting of human and animal remains as the novel describes (Shelley