Translation: Paula Picado Picado
Frankenstein: ¿Creature or … monster?
Mary Shelley’s masterpiece Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus, published in 1818 during the era of literary Romanticism and technological advances, has undeniably marked literature. Not only did this novel have a significant impact on science fiction literature, but it is also considered a prime example of the Gothic genre.

The Gothic Genre
The Gothic, which emerged in the 18th century, is characterized by its dark and mysterious atmosphere, supernatural themes and an ambience of decadence and terror. Classic Gothic works, such as Frankenstein, employ deranged characters and the confrontation between the rational and the irrational. This genre not only seeks to inspire terror through the employment of these characteristics but also to explore humanity’s deepest fears and yield doubts about what is “right” and “wrong” according to society.
Frankenstein: ¿A monster?
For those who love reading, one piece of knowledge that is eventually acquired during the journey through the reading world is the fact that the title Frankenstein does not refer to the name of the creature in the novel but to the surname of the scientist who created it.
This fact is fascinating on a literary level because, according to people who have not yet discovered Frankenstein’s true identity, that name refers to the creature, a monster. Even after discovering that Frankenstein refers to an obsessive scientist of questionable morals, the notion that this name belongs to a monster persists. That is to say, for many, Frankenstein is a monster, regardless of whether they have read the novel or not.
We have noted the monstrous side of Victor Frankenstein, but we must also keep in mind his heroic side or lack thereof.
According to romanticism, the actions of the romantic hero make him be regarded as superior to other humans, as seen in Victor achieving the power of creation, a power that belongs solely to God. However, the scientist’s immediate rejection of the creature is an unheroic trait according to the romantic stereotypes. Thus, Victor can hardly be categorized exclusively as a hero; we must also consider his role as a gothic villain due to the transgression of boundaries. Because of this transgression, Victor Frankenstein has been subjected to all kinds of criticism not only for his reasoning on the creation of life through corpses but also for his life philosophy and lack of respect for society and its rules.
Frankenstein is closely linked to morality, or rather, the lack of it. The philosophical and moral weight of the work is exemplified by the role of Victor Frankenstein, a character that contrasts with previous heroic archetypes. This philosophical complexity can be attributed both to the influence of the era in which the author lived, a time marked by a philosophical boom and to the influence of her father, the philosopher William Godwin.
The combination of romantic and gothic characteristics, along with the characters’ double morality and the philosophical complexity that Mary Shelley includes in the novel, manages to hook the readership on what is now considered a literary classic.
A Recommendation
Given all of the above, we highly recommend reading Frankenstein and exploring the countless adaptations it has inspired. Some of the most noteworthy are several annotated editions that offer an enriching historical and literary context and film adaptations, such as those directed by James Whale or Kenneth Branagh. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the novel at hand has also inspired television series, theater plays and even comic books. Undoubtedly, the abundance of versions and adaptations of Frankenstein demonstrates the fascination it continues to exert on popular culture.
OpenEdition le sugiere que cite este post de la siguiente manera:
pauppic (28 de junio de 2024). Frankenstein: ¿Criatura o … monstruo? El blog de Tartalo. Recuperado 19 de marzo de 2025 de https://doi.org/10.58079/11wer