Frankenstein Just Won't Go Away Yiran Guo

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a literary masterpiece that for the past two centuries has fascinated the imagination and interest of diverse readers. The word “Frankenstein” refers to the monster because it is universally accepted that the creator named so became, metaphorically at least, the Monster he created. As such, the two questions are intuitively linked. The central theme of monstrosity, which is supplemented by curiosity and rejection, make up the “monster” and are packed within the novel. As they are considered timeless because of their existence in human nature, Shelley’s cunning exploration of them, along with the innovative nature of her plot, must be credited with why ‘Frankenstein just won’t go away.’ Furthermore, Frankenstein continues to hold relevance and magnetize enthusiasts because of numerous appropriations that have captured the essence of the monster but have adjusted the content to suit specific contexts. Most notably, James Whale’s 1931 filmic adaptation Frankenstein with Boris Karloff playing the Monster has since been recognized as the foundation of the popular tradition. More recent versions, such as Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein (1974), a hilarious parody of Frankenstein, and Edmund Burton’s...