Essay on Frankenstein - Societal Changes in Film - 2491 Words

A Look at the Story of Frankenstein and the Societal Changes in Film Frankenstein’s monster, a misunderstood creation fabricated by Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s classic story, has been terrorizing readers and audiences alike for well over one hundred and fifty years. Since the story was first written in 1818, there have been numerous plays, and over one hundred films, each adaptation trying to portray its own vision of the original story. Mary Shelley came to create â€Å"the prototype of a new literary genre – science fiction† (Hardwood 14) while James Whale crafted his beautiful film creation, Frankenstein, to portray conservative values and civil rights while still telling the classic story. Other versions of Frankenstein†¦show more content†¦Eleven days after Mary Shelley was born, Ms. Wollstonecraft died. Mary idolized her mother her entire life and even declared her love for future husband at her mother’s grave in London. Since Mary’s father was a philosopher and writer, Mary gr ew up around books and intellectual gatherings around the house. It was at one of these gatherings that Mary met Percy Shelley, a poet and avid follower of Mary’s father. Percy fell in love with Mary and they were wed after Percy’s first wife drowned herself. Following the death of her mother, Mary’s father married a widowed neighbor, which resulted in Mary gaining a stepsister named Claire Clairmont. Claire became a constant companion of Mary and Percy and in 1816; Claire proposed a summer in Geneva in order for Claire to continue a love affair with the English poet Lord Byron. During this retreat, â€Å"the friends kept themselves amused by reading ghost stories to each other and discussing the political and scientific topics of the day†¦finally the friends decided to write a ghost story each and see whose was the most chilling and terrifying. Mary came up with Frankenstein†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Harwood 9) The introduction from the third edition of Frankenstein, written by Shelley herself describes the nature in which she arrived to the idea of her monster. â€Å"When I placed my head upon my pillow, I did not sleep, nor could I be said to think†¦I saw--with shut eyes, but acute mental vision--I saw theShow MoreRelatedNegative Criticism Of Frankenstein1581 Words   |  7 Pageswanted to look beyond the clouds and the stars, or to know what causes the trees to bud? And what changes the darkness into light? But if you talk like that, people call you crazy. Well, if I could discover just one of these things, what eternity is, for example, I wouldn t care if they did think I was crazy.† -Henry Frankenstein (Frankenstein, 1931) A. The images of Frankenstein are so vividly burned onto our collective consciousness, so universally recognizable, that it’s hardRead MoreVictor Frankenstein Film Analysis852 Words   |  4 PagesVictor Frankenstein 2015 Victor Frankenstein 2015 is a science fiction, thriller and horror film that is based on the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. The film was directed by Paul Mcguian and starred Daniel Radcliffe as Igor and James McAvoy as Victor Frankenstein (McGuigan). Unlike other film adaptations based on the same novel, the film is narrated from Igor’s perspective. Igor is a young assistant who is working closely with his over ambitious friend Victor. Victor is also a young medical studentRead MoreScientific Progression in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and the Film, Blade Runner1184 Words   |  5 PagesMary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein† is an early 19th century cautionary tale examining the dark, self-destructive side of human reality and human soul. It is written in the Romantic era where society greatly valued scientific and technological advancement. Throughout the novel, Shelley expresses her concerns of extreme danger when man transgresses science and all ethical values are dis regarded. The implications of debatable experimentation and thriving ambition could evoke on humanity are explored in theRead MoreThe Film Gattaca Is Genetic Discrimination1584 Words   |  7 PagesA theme in The film Gattaca is genetic discrimination. In the aseptic society Vincent lives in , life is genetically restrained even before the individual is born so that each person gets the â€Å"best possible start†. The sterile environment captures a strictly controlled ambience favouring genetic perfection above anything else. It is a society that overpowers human desire and human relationships. This becomes apparent through the mechanical robotic characters that live in Gattaca. Traits suchRead MoreGattaca Is Genetic Discrimination?1543 Words   |  7 Pageslive in Gattaca. Traits such as personality, beliefs, values and morals are useless. Identity in gattaca is seen in solely defined by ones individual status as a valid or in-valid. Other then this nothing else is r elevent.The starting scenes in the film sets an atmosphere of controlled physical excellence. Vincent is shown shaving and exfoliating his skin.Vincent gathers a stray hair d from his keyboard and the space director ackknowledges his admirable cleaning habits, To which Vincent believesRead MoreEssay on Elder Scrolls III:Morrowind3837 Words   |  16 Pagesinteractions with other characters in this virtual world influence and are influenced by your character’s role. There are repercussions for negative behavior. Your game play—the narrative possibilities available to you, and the ones you actually take—changes and evolves depending on how your character acts, and other characters’ expectations about how s/he will act. In Morrowind, our character’s role in the game, and thus, the narrative paths that s/he can take, is shaped by us, his/her interactionsRead MoreClueless: Social Class and Harriet Smith1179 Words   |  5 Pagescontemporised in the Heckerling’s Clueless ââ€" ª Make-over/transformation ââ€" ª Role of women in patriarchal society ââ€" ª Struggles of social classes: the mobility and fluidity of the class structure ââ€" ª Societal commentary ââ€" ª Love and marriage (matchmaking, flirtation) †¢ The most important element of both Emma and Clueless is the â€Å"make-over†/transformation of Harriet Smith (Emma) and Tai (Clueless) †¢ Both Emma and Cher desire to createRead MoreGender Differences Between Men And Women1861 Words   |  8 Pagestime period an individual film was made in, films have perpetually established gender roles and the idea of the quintessential woman to sustain their place in society. The first real example of cinema’s knack for implicitly and explicitly depicting the beliefs of the off-screen world is found in its representation of the Victorian ideal. As Sarah Houston pointed out in her article â€Å"Who’s Wearing the Pants? The Evolving Woman in Early American Cinema,† â€Å"During the silent film era, writers and directorsRead MoreThe Mutation Of The Horror Genre1916 Words   |  8 Pageselements on a screen. Horror films have thrilled audiences for decades, revealing stories of the more sinister parts of life. The popular allure that stems from the genre comes from the tension moviegoers experience when aroused by specific stimuli uniquely present in these cinematic features (Walters). Over time, as the genre progressed, the standardized elements found in a typical horror movie began to shift in different directions primarily due to changing societal circumstances and increasingRead MoreEssay on The Gothic Genre and What it Entails617 7 Words   |  25 Pagesnineteenth century scientific advances were well documented and held in awe and even fear. It is significant that as a result fictional scientists - like Victor Frankenstein - were then added to the stock genre figures. This suggests an intimate dialogue with the environment. One distinct narrative strand of Frankenstein is a warning about the pursuit of science without any spiritual or moral interest. Shelley warns about the dangers of man trying to learn the secrets of Heaven