When most people think of Frankenstein, they often envision a creature with green skin, bolts in its neck, and a lumbering, intimidating walk. This image, largely shaped by movies, television shows, and Halloween costumes, is far from the original portrayal in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the gothic novel that has fascinated readers for over two centuries. The question that arises is whether Frankenstein is truly a horror novel. In exploring this question, we need to consider not just the surface elements of horror, such as the grotesque appearance of the creature, but also delve into the deeper philosophical, psychological, and moral themes present in the text.
Historical Context of Frankenstein
Before analyzing whether Frankenstein qualifies as a horror novel, it’s important to understand the historical context in which it was written. Frankenstein, originally titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, was first published in 1818. Mary Shelley, then just 20 years old, wrote the novel during a summer spent with her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron near Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The group spent a lot of time indoors due to the eruption of Mount Tambora, which caused a “year without a summer” in Europe. The weather prompted Lord Byron to suggest that they all write ghost stories. From this suggestion, Shelley created Frankenstein, a tale that combines gothic horror with early science fiction elements.
The novel was published at a time when the Romantic movement was at its height. Romanticism was characterized by an emphasis on emotion, individualism, and a fascination with the sublime—nature’s power and majesty. This context is essential because Shelley’s Frankenstein reflects many of the Romantic ideals, but it also introduces complex ideas about science, ethics, and humanity, which sets it apart from typical horror stories of the time.
Is Frankenstein a Horror Novel?
The answer to the question of whether Frankenstein is a horror novel is complex and multifaceted. To explore this, we need to examine the characteristics of horror literature and how they apply to Frankenstein.
Horror Elements in Frankenstein
At first glance, Frankenstein certainly contains elements that are typical of the horror genre. The novel features a monstrous creation—Victor Frankenstein’s Creature—that evokes fear, disgust, and revulsion. The Creature is often portrayed as the embodiment of human hubris, a symbol of the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition. It is, after all, a hideous being, created from body parts taken from the dead, which immediately aligns it with grotesque and supernatural elements common in horror stories.
Moreover, the novel is filled with dark and ominous settings, including the bleak, isolated landscapes of the Arctic where Victor Frankenstein pursues his monster, and the gloomy, haunted atmosphere of Frankenstein’s laboratory. These settings create a sense of foreboding, which is another hallmark of the horror genre. The creature’s rampages—first against Frankenstein’s family and later, in turn, against his creator—also generate fear and suspense, further suggesting a horror narrative.
However, Frankenstein is more than just a tale of a monster stalking its creator. Shelley delves deeply into the psychological and moral implications of Frankenstein’s actions. While there is undeniably a supernatural and monstrous element to the story, much of the horror stems from the consequences of Frankenstein’s scientific experimentation. The real horror in Frankenstein comes from the moral questions that arise as Victor Frankenstein creates life and abandons it, only to have it seek revenge. These themes of neglect, responsibility, and the boundaries of scientific discovery set Frankenstein apart from typical horror stories.
The Creature as a Horror Figure
In many classic horror stories, the monster is an external, clear-cut embodiment of evil. However, in Frankenstein, the Creature is a much more nuanced character. While his actions are monstrous—he kills innocent people, including Victor’s brother, friend, and wife—his motives are rooted in a desperate desire for companionship and understanding. The Creature is not born evil; rather, his monstrousness results from his abandonment by his creator, his rejection by society, and his growing bitterness over the lack of empathy or love in his life.
This complexity makes the Creature more than just a typical horror villain. He is a tragic figure, an outcast seeking to fit in and find belonging. His story is one of isolation, longing, and pain, which invites readers to sympathize with him, even as they fear him. Shelley thus complicates the traditional horror narrative by asking readers to consider whether the real monster is the Creature or the man who created him and failed to take responsibility for his actions.
Philosophical and Psychological Themes in Frankenstein
The novel’s deeper philosophical and psychological themes contribute significantly to its status as a literary masterpiece and its categorization as more than just a simple horror story. One of the key themes is the idea of the Promethean myth, which is central to the novel’s subtitle, The Modern Prometheus. In Greek mythology, Prometheus is the Titan who defied Zeus by creating humans and giving them fire, an act for which he was severely punished. In a similar way, Victor Frankenstein defies natural laws by creating life, an act that ultimately leads to his destruction.
This theme of overreaching ambition and the consequences of playing God is a central concern in Frankenstein. Victor’s obsessive desire to conquer death and create life without regard for the moral or ethical implications of his actions mirrors the myth of Prometheus. It raises questions about the limits of human knowledge and the dangers of scientific experimentation when it is pursued without responsibility or foresight. The horror in Frankenstein is not only about the Creature’s physical form or the deaths he causes but about the larger ethical implications of creation and the pursuit of knowledge.
In addition to these philosophical concerns, Frankenstein explores the psychological impact of guilt and responsibility. Victor Frankenstein’s refusal to take responsibility for his creation and his abandonment of the Creature lead to a cycle of violence and revenge. Victor’s internal conflict, as he grapples with his guilt and the consequences of his actions, adds a psychological layer to the horror of the novel. The horror here is not merely external, but deeply internal, as Victor is haunted by his own conscience and the realization that he cannot escape the consequences of his actions.
Frankenstein and Gothic Literature
Frankenstein is often categorized as part of the Gothic literary tradition, a genre known for its focus on mystery, terror, and the supernatural. The Gothic novel often explores themes of decay, madness, and the limits of human reason, and Frankenstein fits these elements well. The novel’s dark, atmospheric settings—such as Frankenstein’s laboratory and the desolate landscapes of the Swiss Alps—create a sense of foreboding and mystery. The Creature, with his unnatural origins and grotesque appearance, embodies the Gothic fascination with the uncanny and the horrifying.
However, Frankenstein also transcends the Gothic genre in some respects. While Gothic literature typically emphasizes the supernatural, Frankenstein can be seen as an early example of science fiction, with its focus on the potential dangers of scientific experimentation. Shelley’s exploration of the moral consequences of scientific discovery pushes the novel beyond traditional Gothic horror and into the realm of speculative fiction.
The Role of Nature in Frankenstein
Nature plays a significant role in Frankenstein and serves as a counterpoint to the horrors of Frankenstein’s scientific ambitions. Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein seeks to control and manipulate nature through his scientific experiments, but the natural world continually stands in contrast to his efforts. The sublime landscapes—majestic mountains, tempestuous seas, and vast wildernesses—serve as a reminder of the limits of human power and the uncontrollable forces of nature.
In contrast to the unnatural creation of the Creature, nature is depicted as beautiful, pure, and powerful. Yet, it is also a source of terror and danger. The novel’s depiction of nature is thus ambiguous: it is both a force for awe and a source of destruction. This duality mirrors the central conflict in Frankenstein, where the quest for knowledge and power through science ultimately leads to disaster.
Conclusion
So, is Frankenstein a horror novel? The answer is not straightforward. While it contains many elements typical of the horror genre—such as a terrifying monster, suspenseful scenes, and a dark atmosphere—the novel is much more than a simple tale of fright. It explores complex themes of scientific hubris, moral responsibility, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The horror in Frankenstein is not just in the physical appearance of the Creature or in his violent actions but also in the profound philosophical and psychological questions the novel raises about creation, knowledge, and responsibility.
In conclusion, Frankenstein is a multifaceted work that blends elements of horror with deeper philosophical, ethical, and psychological inquiries. It is a novel that challenges readers to reflect on the consequences of human ambition, the nature of monstrosity, and the responsibilities of creation. Whether or not it is purely a horror novel depends on one’s definition of the genre, but it certainly contains many elements of horror while also transcending those elements to become a classic work of literature.