The Role Of The Supernatural In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Mary Shelley’s notorious novel, Frankenstein, is published in 1818. Famous for its gothic elements, this novel explores what happens when a young scientist is overcome with a desire for scientific knowledge. This doctor, Victor Frankenstein, brings life to an inanimate collection of bones and flesh, but his own work terrifies him. Victor abandons his monster, which causes the monster to seek revenge against his creator. Moreover, supernatural forces are a common characteristic valued in Gothic tales, and Shelley’s novel is no exception. Victor’s creation is the most obvious example of supernatural in this story, but the creation itself is very complex. Furthermore, three examples of the supernatural force concerning Victor’s creation include its existence, its physicality, and its mind. One supernatural factor of Victor’s creation is certainly its existence. Scientifically, this creation is impossible, for its body consists of random body parts of the dead conjoined together. The novel states Victor collects bones and flesh from charnel houses, dissecting rooms, and slaughter houses, and he disturbs the secrets of the human body. In the time of the setting, the medical knowledge is very poor. Many aspects of medicine are ignored in creating …show more content…

It stands at eight feet tall with pale yellow skin that is stretched tightly against its muscles. It has black hair and pearly white teeth hidden behind dark lips. Aside from its disturbing appearance, the creature’s physical abilities are certainly extraordinary. It is incredibly strong, and it has exceptional endurance. It needs very little to eat in order to sustain life or maintain its strength. Accordingly, it is very adaptable to its conditions; for example, it is unaffected by the cold climate of the Arctic. The creation’s physicality is nonetheless incredible and unnatural, leading readers to believe he is certainly a creation of the