Frankenstein Research Paper

The Gothic genre came to light in the late 18th century and became popular in British romantic literature. Gothic Literature was characterized by its emphasis on the supernatural, and the mysterious, and its use of dark, ghostly settings and themes, and strong emotions. According to Wheeler the ‘gothic’ was a pejorative term “used to denigrate objects, people, and attitudes deemed barbarous, grotesque, coarse, crude, formless, tasteless, primitive, savage, and ignorant”.Gothic fiction as a genre was first established with the publication of Horace Walpole's Dark, foreboding," The Castle Of Otranto" in 1764. Gothic literature has also given a vehicle for writers to examine issues such as sexuality, repression, politics, racism, and a variety

In "Frankenstein," Victor's creation of the monster plays on this fear since the monster represents an unnatural and horrible creature that challenges the boundaries of life and death. The novel goes into the fears associated with interfering with forces beyond human control. The Gothic genre usually dives into psychological and emotional misery, both of which were popular topics throughout the Romantic period. In "Frankenstein," both Victor and the monster struggle with their own identities while dealing with feelings of loneliness, rejection, and retribution. These psychological challenges reflect fears about individual alienation and self-fragmentation in a fast-changing world."Frankenstein" uses both psychological and physical horrors to elicit anxiety and uneasiness. The physical horrors are seen in the monster's hideous look and brutal deeds. These aspects express the fears associated with the fragility of the human mind and body. Gothic literature usually investigates the violation of societal and moral limits. In "Frankenstein," Victor's attempt to play God by creating life has disastrous repercussions. The idea of boundary transgression expresses cultural fears about the shifting social order, as conventional hierarchies and conventions were being challenged and overturned. During the Romantic period, the concept of the "Other" was a prominent theme. As the British Empire expanded,

Frankenstein's anxiety around sex indicates a kind of "homosexual panic" common in Gothic Literature. Frankenstein can never safely acknowledge his curiosity or even the existence of the male body as a sexual object, which leads him to regard sex itself as panic-inducing. Victor's act of creating a life without female involvement, followed by his refusal to produce a female companion for the monster, expresses anxiety about female autonomy and the fear of female sexual power. His fear of female sexuality is heightened by Shelley's metaphorical language, which states that the two monsters would create "a race of devils," simply rejecting the feminine and equating it with evil and sin.The novel also portrays the romantic era's sexual anxieties, notably in the context of gender norms and sexual identity. The story defies established gender stereotypes by portraying female characters like Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Mortiz as powerful and independent. Furthermore, the monster's lack of a female creator raises concerns about the control of reproductive authority and the anxieties around female