Monday, August 22, 2016

Week 1 - Frankenstein

Frankenstein

Well, Gothic Horror is said to be that “A character – whose sensibilities will be sympathetically familiar and contemporary, no matter the actual setting – is removed by circumstance from the familiar and ‘normal’ to another, darker realm”. In this story, the character wants to study different chemistries which other professors finds odd. So I believe that the character in the beginning is getting into that “darker side”.

The doctor has become intrigued and desperate enough to study more about these chemicals. He is willing to go into the further to find out more. Later on, he finds that once Frankenstein becomes alive, he is not a mean monster. All the doctor wanted was that Frankenstein to be alive and smart. The plot of the story when they are bringing a dead man to life is pretty horrifying for most people.

I think that this really contributes the “gothic” era. Most of the action in the story is in a dark, abandoned castle and a thunderstorm here and there. (I think a thunderstorm is one of the aspects of horror stories). There are many rooms and trap doors, and creepy staircases. There is fear behind the whole scene of when they are searching for the mysterious and secret room downstairs behind a bookcase. In most cases that’s intended to be a threatening feeling when that is happening.

Later on in the story, the doctor’s wife gets to be the “damsel in distress” and be killed by Frankenstein. I think this demonstrates the women aspect of the “gothic” times.