Gothic Fiction and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Macabre graveyards in the midst of windswept moors, haunted mansions full of cobwebs and ghosts, tragic heroes and murderous villain, damsels in distress and doomed romance – Gothic fiction gives us the best – and worst – of horror and romance.
Where has the Gothic come from and where is it going?
We look at the major works of Gothic literature and its main characteristics and themes in the context of the historic developments and environment.
Frankenstein is among the first classics of this genre and one of the first, and most powerful, written by a woman. In a way, it is also the least ‘Gothic’. Despite the presence of all the elements of classic Gothic, it does not scare you out of your wits, but gives you food for thought about the role of love, care and family in everyone’s life. What makes someone human and teaches us to take responsibility for our actions?
The life of Mary Shelley and the story of the creation of her most famous novel is even more dramatic than the book itself. Talent, passion, love and betrayal, against the background of the harsh 19th century reality, — Mary Shelley and Frankenstein are an epic and heart rendering tale for all times.
