As early as the 1790s, then, Ann Radcliffe firmly set the Gothic in one of the ways it would go ever after: a novel in which the central figure is young woman who is simultaneously persecuted victim and courageous heroine. But what are we to make the next major turning of the Gothic tradition that a women brought about a generation later? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in 1818, made over the Gothic novel into what today we call science fiction. Frankenstein brought a new sophistication to literary terror, and it did so without a heroine, without even an important female victim. Paradoxically, however, no other Gothic work by a women writer, perhaps no other literary work of any kind by a woman, better repays examination in the light of sex of its author.
Mary brought birth to fiction not as realism but as Gothic fantasy, and thus contributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality. She invented the mad scientist who locks himself in his laboratory and secretly, guiltily, works at creating human life, only to find that he has made a monster. That is very good horror, but what follows is more horrid still; Frankenstein, the scientist, runs …show more content…
For there is neither supernatural element nor description of decaying monasteries and terrifying castles etc. in the novel. Instead of the conventional Gothic trappings there are features of a travelogue, of science fiction that was yet to develop, and of tragedy of an over-reacher. It is quite likely that Mary Shelley never attempted the traditional Gothic form as her intention was not to create terror through supernatural element. Victor Frankenstein, the central charater in the novel, speak for the author when he denouces the supernatural element. Traditional ghosts and the places of their movements- the decaying castels, forts and churches were thus denied entry into Mary Shelley’s novel which yet creates terror through Victor’s own
Mary brought birth to fiction not as realism but as Gothic fantasy, and thus contributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality. She invented the mad scientist who locks himself in his laboratory and secretly, guiltily, works at creating human life, only to find that he has made a monster. That is very good horror, but what follows is more horrid still; Frankenstein, the scientist, runs …show more content…
For there is neither supernatural element nor description of decaying monasteries and terrifying castles etc. in the novel. Instead of the conventional Gothic trappings there are features of a travelogue, of science fiction that was yet to develop, and of tragedy of an over-reacher. It is quite likely that Mary Shelley never attempted the traditional Gothic form as her intention was not to create terror through supernatural element. Victor Frankenstein, the central charater in the novel, speak for the author when he denouces the supernatural element. Traditional ghosts and the places of their movements- the decaying castels, forts and churches were thus denied entry into Mary Shelley’s novel which yet creates terror through Victor’s own