Frankenstein is a famous horror novel written by the English author Mary Shelley. The novel was published in 1818 under the title Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who tries to create a living being for the good of humanity but instead produces a monster.
Frankenstein creates his monster by assembling parts of dead bodies and activating the creature with electricity. The monster, which has no name in the book, is actually a gentle, intelligent creature. But everyone fears and mistreats him because of his hideous appearance. Frankenstein himself rejects the monster and refuses to create a mate for him. The monster’s terrible loneliness drives him to seek revenge by murdering Frankenstein’s wife, brother, and best friend. Frankenstein dies while trying to find and kill the monster, who disappears into the Arctic at the end of the novel.
Many horror films have been based on the character of Frankenstein’s monster. Most of them have little to do with the serious themes of the novel. These themes include the possible dangers involved in scientific experimentation with life and the suffering caused by judging people by their appearance.
