Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, and Victor LaValle’s graphic novel, Destroyer have several theme, character, and setting comparisons. Even though Frankenstein was published in 1818, and Destroyer was published in 2020, both works have historical connections and emphasize the themes of creation and revenge.
Frankenstein tells the story of an ambitious scientist, Victor Frankenstein, whose goal is to create life. While succeeding in the experiment, the creature he creates turns into a “monster”. Victor, who is terrified of what he has created, abandons his creation leaving it to “grow up” by itself. With the feelings of abandonment, the creature decides to get revenge throughout the entire novel and eventually leaves only Ernest, Victor
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In Frankenstein, there are several historical connections. The connection between Romanticism and Frankenstein is present throughout the story. Romanticism is defined as a literary and artistic movement marked by an emphasis on the imagination and emotions. With both the writing of the novel and Romanticism occurring in the same time period, the early 1800s, the theme of sublime nature, individual emotions, and creativity is seen in the novel. For example, the theme of sublime nature is seen when Victor travels to the summit of Montanvert by himself, hoping that the view of nature, especially looking at the glacier, will revive his spirits. “I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous and ever-moving glacier had produced upon my mind… it had then filled me with sublime ecstasy that gave wings to the soul” (Shelley 68). In Destroyer, there are several historical connections. The connection between The Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) and Destroyer is present throughout the story. The BLM Movement is an activist movement that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people. BLM Movement protests against the police killings of black people and broader issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the United States. With both the writing of the novel and the BLM Movement occurring in the same time period, the 2000s, the theme of police brutality and racial inequality is seen in the novel. For example, this theme is seen when Akai is murdered, because the police thought his baseball bat was a gun, on his way home from a Little League baseball game (LaValle Chapter 4). The officer then was dismissed from the case and was applauded for his commendable service. The historical connections in these stories, such as the Romantic Era and Black Lives Matter Movement, will continue to