(in english) FRANKENSTEIN OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS Mary Shelley UK 1818

The complete title is : "Frankenstein, or the modern Prometheus". Who is Prometheus ? According the Greek mythology, Promethée is a god who created the human kind from a piece of clay, despite Zeus ( the God of gods ) disapproval. Promethee learned them the metallurgy and fire. To punish Promethee, Zeus enchained him on a hill and let the Caucasian eagle eat his liver....Indeed, in the book, we could understand that God punished the scientist for having imitated him in giving life - by science...In other words, the scientist took the place of God... Category : Science - fiction Landscapes : French Alps, gardens, forests, ... The story : A scientist, Victor Frankenstein, creates from dead bodies parts, a living creature, good in his heart. This creature escape from the laboratory where he was created, and unaware of his awful aspect, go to meet the Human kind. He hides some long months in a small shed in a garden , study how the inhabitants of the house are living and learn to speak in hearing to them talking. One day, he decides to meet these persons and is violently chased. He understands that he will never have love or friendship from the humans, and becomes aware of his hideous aspect. He promises hell to his creator if he refuses to built him a female of his kind,in aim to never be alone again. The Dr Frankenstein refuses to do it and sees all the beloved people around him dying, whom his future spouse, strangled by the creature.The doctor tries to find him all around the world to kill him but fail. He dies of exhausement and pain. The creature learns that his creator has died by his fault and realises the harm he has done , and killed himself. The original manuscript is housed in the Bodleian Library of Oxford. Topics : - The responsability of a man for his creation - Is the man good at the beginning of his life ? - What does motivate a creature to do harm to someone else ? historical context : 1820 : The Electricity has just been discovered. Lightning is particulary enlighted in the James Whale 's film during the creation of the creature process. Reviews made when the book was first published : One the one hand, "Frankenstein" was considered as an original and audacious story, but on the other hand, most of the reviews founded it blasphemous and not really plausible. But all agreeded to call it a "gothic" story, because of its frigntening aspect. ( Whereas nowadays, it is labelled as "Science fiction" - I hate labels !.... ) What the public thaught about it in 1818 : The book was very well perceived, and Frankenstein has become a worldwide myth. A great success : The novel was adapted the first time for a play in 1823 in England, and the first film based on that story was a silent film, achieved in 1910 by Edison. Comments : I fouded it interesting to read this book to chase two set ideas : - The creature, at the beginning is not bad. It is the men'sintolerance which made him wicked - Frankenstein is not the name of the creature, but of his creator The writing style is very easy to follow, you are not bored with the rythm of action....The book proposes both the scientist point of view, and both the creature's , which is very interesting. Moreover, Mary Shelley made a very subtle psychological analysis of the creature...When we know she wrote this novel at only 19 !!! She was surely very mature....