Frankenstein and Images Conjured by the Gothic

Perhaps the most iconic of the gothic aspects in Frankenstein is that regarding the supernatural; for most, the mere title Frankenstein conjures images of the monster himself, as well as the theatric way in which the monster came to be. The intermingling of science and the raising of the dead described by Mary Shelley brings to mind flashes of lightning and electricity, an uproar of laughter coming from the mad scientist himself, and the hideous face of the product of it all. The classic literary device of raising the dead and its clear ties to the supernatural aspect of gothic literature, for this reason, is what resonates the most with me. What’s more, however, is that this literary device is a vehicle used to touch on more human issues. Madness, a theme common to gothic literature, is exhibited by the protagonist of the story, using his experiences with the supernatural as a catalyst for this. 

The gloomy settings featured in the novel Frankenstein are also typical to gothic literature. As a visual storyteller I’m especially partial to this quality, as it provides an ideal backdrop for supernatural occurrences to take place while providing for powerful image-making possibilities. The laboratory where Victor brings his monster to life feels like an especially notable location in the story, as it has been immortalized in the consciousness of moviegoers in films like Young Frankenstein. The element of mystery that comes along with a mad scientist’s lab seems like an integral element to the story, not to mention the fact that most audiences, myself include in this figure, are likely unaware of what a science lab of this caliber would even look like. To this day we aren’t really aware of what a lab used to reanimate the dead would look like, as it has yet to be done.