Fear in Frankenstein

Examining the elements of fear present in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein help explain why this narrative continues to be relevant even in our modern society. Indeed, the novel is frightening on a far deeper level than our pop culture understanding gives it credit for.

The first frightening element is, of course, the physical fear associated with Frankenstein’s monster. The characters in the novel are afraid of the monster due to his “ugliness” and brute strength. It is completely valid for them to be afraid of a creature that is so huge and that goes around killing people with his bare hands, because no one wants to experience physical pain and death.

However, the more interesting fear present in the novel is the psychological fear connected with the existence of this monster. The undead quality of the monster brings to mind our modern fascination with a zombie apocalypse. We, as a society, tend to prefer dead things to stay dead and we have a hard time psychologically with humans who take on the role of God as Victor does in the novel. Victor’s utter destruction reminds readers that the whole of human suffering is supposedly directly related to Adam and Eve’s desire to acquire knowledge and become like God. Humans are not capable of being like God, which is why when Victor creates a new being, he is messes it up, creates an ugly monster, and is completely incapable of reacting appropriately to his new creation. Thus, psychologically, readers are supposed to become wary of scientific advancement and to fear the destruction that inevitably follows.

Another frightening psychological element in the novel is the way in which our own choices and actions have the ability to bring such pain and destruction into our lives. No matter what he does or where he goes, Victor is unable to escape the monster or protect his family from the consequences of his action. His absence isn’t enough to protect Clerval from the monster’s wrath and even his guns were unable to save Elizabeth on their wedding night. Even when Victor finally attempts to hunt and kill the monster, he is completely unable to succeed and the monster only dies after Victor dies and can no longer be haunted by his actions.

by Anto Juricic, ninjacrunch.com

I think that the most powerful psychologically frightening aspect of the novel is the idea that we all have the potential to be the monster. As the monster says, “everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend” (location 1199). We all experience loneliness at some point in our lives, and while that is frightening enough, the idea that misery resulting from this loneliness can turn us into “fiends” is truly scary. The monster was kind and caring and only wanted friends, but society and rejection turned him into a cruel and savage being. The monster also notes that “my heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy, and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture such as you cannot even imagine” (location 2857). Through the monster, Shelley is warning us that loneliness, misery, and anger are a slippery downward spiral that can quickly lead to extreme pain and regret.

One interesting idea I’d like to note here at the end is Shelley’s use of sublime as compared to the usual use of sublime in Gothic literature. Whereas sublime was generally thought of as inducing fear itself, in Frankenstein the sublime nature serves as a comfort to Victor. He says “sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it” (location 1143).

He also says “The weight upon my spirit was sensibly lightened as I plunged yet deeper in the ravine of Arve. The immense mountains and precipices that overhung me on every side, the sound of the river raging among the rocks, and the dashing of the waterfalls around spoke of a power mighty as Omnipotence—and I ceased to fear or to bend before any being less almighty than that which had created and ruled the elements, here displayed in their most terrific guise. Still, as I ascended higher, the valley assumed a more magnificent and astonishing character. Ruined castles hanging on the precipices of piny mountains, the impetuous Arve, and cottages every here and there peeping forth from among the trees formed a scene of singular beauty. But it was augmented and rendered sublime by the mighty Alps” (location 1118).

The mountains, precipices, raging river, and ruined castles are all typical Gothic images which soothe Victor instead of causing him fear. This is because, as he says, the huge and awe inspiring mountains and powerful elements remind him that there is an “almighty power” that is bigger than him and the terrifying creature he created.

[note: I read this on my Kindle e-reader, which is why the quotes are cited by location]