Frankenstein, Or, The Modern PrometheusFrankenstein is the most famous novel by Mary Shelley: a dark Faustian parable of science misused that was an immediate success on its publication in 1818. Purporting to be the record of an explorer, it tells of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but wayward student of science, who builds a human from dead flesh. Horrified by what he has done, he abandons his creation. The creature, an outcast for his horrific appearance, learns language and becomes civilized. In time, he attempts to join society but is rejected because he is assumed to have murderous intentions. Spurned, he seeks vengeance on his creator. So begins a cycle of destruction, with Frankenstein and his "monster" pursuing each other to the extremes of nature until all vestiges of their humanity are lost in monomaniacal hatred. In 1831, Mary Shelley succumbed to conservative pressure and toned down the more radical elements of the work. The novel is here presented in its original, unexpurgated form. |
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affection Agatha agony Albertus Magnus anguish appeared arrived beauty became beheld beloved bestow Chamonix Clerval companion consolation cottage countenance cousin creature crime dared dark dear death delight desire despair destroyed discovered dream earth Elizabeth endeavoured endured entered evil expressed eyes father fear feelings Felix felt Frankenstein Geneva gentle grief happiness heard heart heavens hope horror human imagination Ingolstadt innocent journey Jura Justine kind Kirwin Krempe labours lake letter live looked manner marriage Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin mind miserable misfortune monster Mont Blanc mountains murderer natural philosophy nature never night Paracelsus Paradise Lost passed passion peace perceived Percy Shelley pleasure poor possessed rage reflect remained resolved revenge Safie scene sensations smiles sometimes soon sorrow soul spirit strange suffered Switzerland tale tears thought torture vengeance Victor Victor Frankenstein voice WILLIAM GODWIN wind wish wonder wood words wretch