Frankenstein

This is a blog task assigned by Megha Ma’am. It’s based on a novel by Mary Shelly called “Frankenstein”. 

1. What are some major differences between the movie and the novel Frankenstein?

There are many creative liberties taken in the Frankenstein adaptation of 1994, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Some of the major differences are as below:- 

Character of Ernest:- 

In the book, there are three Frankenstein brothers : Victor, Earnest, and William. The character of Ernest is completely cut off from the movie. The reason for this could be that Ernest does not play an active role in the storyline. However, this was a noticeable change. 

Death of the mother:-

In the movie, the reason for Victor Frankenstein’s mother Caroline’s death is shown to be excessive bleeding after childbirth. This is a change from the book. In the book, the cause for Caroline’s death is scarlet fever. In chapter number 3, it is described that Elizabeth got scarlet fever, and while attending to her sick bed, the mother got infected. However, she could not survive this illness and eventually died. 

Creation of the creature:- 

Another thing, that is changed in the movie is the experiment conducted by Victor. In the movie, when the professor dies, Victor gets his hand on his old journal and learns about the experiment of creating life out of dead matter and he solves a few mistakes done by the professor because of which the experiment was unsuccessful. All of this, is not present in the book. In the book, Victor does the entire experiment on his own without anyone’s help. Moreover, nobody at Victor’s University even knows about his experiments. 

In the movie, there is a seen where Victor uses his professor’s brain for the creature and body of the person who was hanged for a crime. This is also a significant change from the book. Initially, Victor got all the body parts from churchyard.

Changes in Henry Clerval:- 

In the book, we meet Henry as Victor‘s childhood best friend. When Victor goes to the university, the two of them get separated for sometime. After a few years, coincidently on the night that Victor makes the creature, he meets Henry again. This character is changed in the movie, where he meets Victor at the university. Another major change is that both of them were studying for different professions and not together, as shown in the film. 

There are many more changes done in the film, these were just a few examples. However, making these changes is not necessarily a bad decision as the film has to be more interesting and captivating. Hence, certain creative liberties helps the movie in creating a more engrossing cinematic experience.

2. Who do you think is a real monster?

I think the real monster in “Frankenstein” is Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster.

Victor is a brilliant scientist who is obsessed with the idea of creating life. He succeeds in his quest, but he is horrified by the creature he creates. He abandons the creature, who is left to fend for himself.

The creature is initially innocent and kind-hearted. He desires love and acceptance, but he is rejected by society because of his appearance. This rejection leads him to become angry and vengeful. He kills Victor's loved ones in an attempt to punish him for creating him. However, the creature's actions are ultimately a result of Victor's neglect and abandonment. Victor is the one who created the monster, and he is the one who is responsible for its suffering.

Victor's monstrosity is not limited to his physical appearance. He is also morally corrupt. He is willing to sacrifice everything, including his own family and friends, in pursuit of his scientific goals. He is also a hypocrite, as he condemns the creature for its violence even though he is the one who created it and abandoned it. In the end, Victor is destroyed by his own creation. He dies chasing the monster to the Arctic, where he succumbs to illness and exhaustion.

Shelley's novel suggests that the real monster is not the creature itself, but rather the human who created it.

You can check out this video on this debate:- 

3. Do you think the search for knowledge is dangerous and destructive?

I do not think the search for knowledge is dangerous or destructive. We are here today, because of our curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Whatever development the human beings have done was possible only because of our exploration of science. However, in many of our literary examples we find the search for knowledge to be destructive. 

In Mary Shelley's novel “Frankenstein”, we fin the suggestion that the search for knowledge can be dangerous and destructive if it is not pursued responsibly. Victor Frankenstein's story is a cautionary tale about the importance of considering the consequences of our actions before we act.

Here are some specific examples of how the search for knowledge is dangerous and destructive in Frankenstein:

• Victor Frankenstein's obsession with knowledge leads him to neglect his family and friends. He becomes so consumed by his work that he loses sight of what is important in life.

• Victor's creation of the monster is a direct result of his quest for knowledge. He is so focused on achieving his goal that he does not consider the ethical implications of his actions.

• The monster is rejected by society because of his appearance. This rejection leads him to become angry and vengeful. He kills Victor's loved ones in an attempt to punish him for creating him.

• Victor's pursuit of the monster leads to his own death. He is so determined to destroy his creation that he chases him to the Arctic, where he succumbs to illness and exhaustion.

It is important to note that Shelley is not condemning the pursuit of knowledge altogether. She is simply warning us to be mindful of the potential dangers. Knowledge can be a powerful tool, but it must be used wisely.

4. Do you think Victor Frankenstein’s creature was inherently evil or did society’s rejection and mistreatment turn him into a monster?

Whether Victor Frankenstein's creature was inherently evil or whether society's rejection and mistreatment turned him into a monster is a complex question that has been debated by philosophers and literary critics for centuries.

On the one hand, the creature is clearly capable of great evil. He murders Frankenstein's younger brother, William, and his best friend, Clerval, and he eventually seeks revenge on Frankenstein himself. However, it is important to remember that the creature is also a victim. He is abandoned by Frankenstein at birth and is rejected by society because of his hideous appearance. He is forced to live in isolation and loneliness, and he is constantly hunted and persecuted.

It is possible that the creature's evil deeds are simply the result of his mistreatment by society. After all, it is difficult to remain good when you are constantly treated with hatred and cruelty. The creature himself tells Frankenstein, "I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." It is important to note that the creature is also very young and naive. He is still learning about the world and about himself. It is possible that he did not fully understand the consequences of his actions.

Ultimately, the question of whether the creature was inherently evil or whether he was turned into a monster by society is one that cannot be definitively answered. However, I personally believe that the creature was not inherently evil and it was the injustice he faced that made him like that. 

5. Should there be limits on scientific exploration? If so, what should those limits be?

Yes, there should definitely be some limits to scientific explanations. Although advancement of science is really helpful to humans in countless ways, some limitations should be there.  Like Theodore Levitt said, “anything in excess is a poison”. 

In the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, we find a cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific exploration without regard for the consequences. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant scientist, is obsessed with the idea of creating life. He eventually succeeds in creating a creature, but he is horrified by his creation and abandons it. The creature is left to fend for itself, and it eventually becomes a monster that seeks revenge on Frankenstein.

The novel suggests that there are some scientific discoveries that should not be pursued, because they are too dangerous or unethical. For example, Frankenstein's creation of life could be seen as a violation of the natural order. It is also important to consider the potential consequences of scientific discoveries before pursuing them. For example, Frankenstein did not consider the impact that his creation would have on his own life or on the lives of others.

Here are some specific examples of limits that could be placed on scientific exploration, based on the lessons of Frankenstein:

• Limits on the creation of artificial life. Frankenstein's novel suggests that there are some ethical concerns associated with the creation of artificial life. For example, who would be responsible for the welfare of artificial life forms? How would they be treated? What rights would they have?
• Limits on genetic engineering.Genetic engineering is a powerful technology that has the potential to improve our lives in many ways. However, it is also important to be aware of the potential risks associated with genetic engineering. For example, unintended consequences could lead to new diseases or environmental problems.
• Limits on the development of new weapons. Science has played a role in the development of increasingly destructive weapons throughout history. It is important to consider the potential consequences of developing new weapons before doing so. For example, would new weapons make the world safer or more dangerous?

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to place limits on scientific exploration is a complex one that must be made on a case-by-case basis. It is important to weigh the potential benefits of scientific discovery against the potential risks, and to consider the ethical implications of our actions.

For more information on Frankenstein, you can check out a few videos given below :-