Frankenstein

           We have just finished writing Frankenstein, 1818, which is the pre-edited version. Overall my feelings on the book was so-so. Because it was mainly composed on what Walton heard from Frankenstein, as a result, the readers do not feel transported to the scene but are merely weighed down by Frankenstein's feelings, or of the monster's feelings, depending on who is talking. These feelings can continue for many paragraphs. Along with this, the speakers go on long tangents about terrors and trials and long explanations. Frankenstein takes a long detour in his story about his misery by talking about his perfect childhood, before getting to the part of the monster. Elizabeth also, when telling Frankenstein about the death of William, goes on a long tangent about where Justine came from and how wonderful she is. This seems unnatural as Frankenstein should have already know all this since he always found her to be wonderful company. The ending was also in a way, disappointing, even though we are reassured that the monster is not evil and regrets all that he has done, Frankenstein is dead, and the monster vows to destroy it's self. Which could have been an early solution before he became as miserable and "wretched" as he now feels. It seemed necessary for the monster to drag Frankenstein to the north, unless he wanted to kill the doctor in this fashion, which his lament makes me believe isn't true. Although I do relate to the monster more so than the doctor, and i sympathize with him, and I feel that he is portrayed in a life like manner, his reactions were believable. I can't say this for the other characters. There manner of speech was far too elevated, even when talking to their closest friends, even in anguish, when one generally isn't concerned with how flowery their speech is. Even the maid, though educated, speaks like the rest of the "human" cast, regardless of the fact that she is on death row, so to speak. Frankenstein's also seemed to be overly dramatic, falling deathly ill multiple times, when ever the worst was upon him. I understand being so horrified and miserable that you are sick, but going from perfectly well to at the brink of death is a little uncalled for. Over all I found this to be forced in terms of drama and high class, but I did not hate the book.
         I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of creating life and enjoyed the monster very much as a character, enjoying the scenes he partook in to be my favorite parts. Although most of my distaste for Frankenstein comes from his abandonment of the monster, the moment it begins to breath, it is rather realistic. Before, he was too hell-bent on succeeding that he didn't look ahead to the implications, (another flaw), but because of this it is reasonable that once he is finished and can officially stand back to see what he's accomplished, he can realize what a horrid thing he has done. Immediately calling it a monster, despite having been looking at it the entire experiment. The monster's appearance is even the doctors fault since the doctor is the one who put him together like that. For Frankenstein to react with horror and run is reasonable, but the fact that he ignores the missing monster, not caring whether it is intelligent or not, or whether it is inherently evil. I think, even if Frankenstein didn't tell anyone about the monster, it would have been reasonable to have searched for it.
         Because this is the pre-edited version, i think it is natural that the style is a little wordy and the characters a little flat. I have no doubt that the other versions will perhaps read much better. I do though, recommend the book, even tough this isn't the point of the blog, but I think I might have discouraged some to read it, which I don't want to do.