March selection: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein!

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

About this month's selection:  There are several versions of Frankenstein available but the differences are generally minor with a few word or sentence changes or alterations on chapter breaks.  By happenstance I grabbed an interesting version that has all of the changes and additions that her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, made written in italics.  It also has, as an addendum, her original version entirely from her own hand.  Readers are not required to get this edition as any version will do. [ For interested parties the ISBN of mine is 978-0-307-47442-1].   I selected this book, not only because I (barely) started a few years ago and never finished it (a different copy), but also because this is a nice easy dip into the world of  classic Gothic fiction.  Gothic fiction happens to be one of my favorite genres but I think some of the more definitive Gothic texts may be too dry for first timers.  Some examples are The Castle of Otranto, Carmilla, and The Mysteries of Udolpho. Carmilla is such a great story that I may have to add it in for October, but I may just work in something that I have never read before.

About the book: Most people know or have heard that the book Frankenstein and the Hollywood representation of Frankenstein are absolutely nothing alike; not just in appearance but in place, manner, story, and character.  Essentially every aspect of the film diverged completely from the book.  Now you have the opportunity to discover a different scientist and monster than you ever would have guessed.  Can you envision a thoughtful and embarrassed Dr. Frankenstein; or a monster that can speak and reason?

Mary Shelley

The origin of the novel is an interesting story by itself.  In May of 1816, Mary Godwin along with Percy Shelly (her future husband), John Polidori, and the poet Lord Byron were staying at a villa rented by Byron at Lake Geneva in Switzerland.  One evening, they were reading German ghost stories and it was proposed as a challenge that each compose a short horror story of their own design. Lord Byron created a "fragment" of a vampire story and Polidori built upon that to create The Vampyre.  Of each story, Mary Godwin's was to be the largest and most memorable.  The idea for her story was conceived one day "in a waking dream."

        "I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world."

Percy Shelley did not create a story but he was very influential on the formation of Frankenstein helping to edit, encouraging Mary to develop it into a full length novel, and ultimately, adding 5000 words of his own.  Two years and many revisions later, Frankenstein became the novel as we know it today.  Although it was regarded unfavorably by critics, it achieved a popular success with general readers.  This month, let's explore what attracted their favor!

Things to consider while reading:


Frankenstein actually has a subtitle called Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus.  How does this story tie in with the myth of Prometheus?

What elements of the book classify it as Gothic literature?  Which does it lack?

If you have seen it, do you think the film is more Gothic than the book?

How can the scientist and the creature both be classified as "monsters"?  Which of them is the least reasonable?

Some have tied this book to themes of abortion, do you find similarities?

Impressions on the Odyssey

Although I do not remember terribly much about it, I had to read Homer's first story, the Iliad, back in college.  I do remember it being a chore to read, and I also remember not enjoying the assignment.  It is seldom that one enjoys a book that that one is forced to read, especially an epic poem.  I sometimes wish that I had been more patient with those assigned reading tasks and tried to take away something from the experience.  (Then again, I had a never-ending stream of assignments so I'm surprised I remember anything at all.)  Well, now that I am older and have no actual essays or tests, I can take more time with such books.  Now, having tackled the Odyssey at the time and translation of my choosing, I have found my experience with Homer's works much more gratifying.

First, I should say that the story was much different than I imagined.  I went into the book thinking that it was going to deal heavily with Odysseus's trials and tribulations in the classic tradition of Jason and the Argonauts or, perhaps, the Arabic tales of Sinbad.  Not that I would've disliked an epic Greek adventure tale, I discovered that this was a little deeper than a mere adventure yarn and deals more heavily with the sorrows of Odysseus's curse and his grave desire to get home.  Until near the end, there are no exciting battles or camaraderie in heroic fashion.  The battles are always one-sided and against him, every fight is one of desperation and survival.  His crew are only loyal to him as long as it is convenient for them to be, ready to go against his commands at the first discomfort.  The gods are quite literally against him.  They mean for him to survive but to also endure a punishment on an epic scale, only Athena is permitted or has any real desire to aid his venture home.  Another pleasant surprise was that when there was action or violence, the story did not gloss over with implications or metaphors. The details of the deaths were, at times, quite grisly such as when Polyphemus dashed two sailors' brains and blood on the cave floor.

If you have any wonder as to what would set flowing the tears a legendary Greek warrior-king, only picture a man loyal to his family having just struggled through a harrowing ten-year war at Troy only to be cursed by Poseidon to be stripped of his ship and sailors and be forced to travel home for another ten years by the aid of others and to be hounded by beasts and trickster goddesses the entire time. Imagine not seeing your wife or child for twenty years and every attempt home ending in disaster.  Seers are constantly telling you that not only will your journey be longer and more harrowing than you can imagine but also that while you are waylaid your own countrymen attempt to court your wife, try to kill your only son, and presently devour your wealth and goods.  But Odysseus does endure.  He survives on his wits, his love of his family, his deep desire of revenge, and more than anything, the continuing favor of his patron-goddess, Pallas-Athena.

In regards to this particular translation, I felt that it helped make the poem easier to read and easier to enjoy.  Comparing it to another translation from the 1950's that I had on hand, I felt that the verse flowed better for the most part.  By removing some of the wordiness of the literal translation and reducing to meaningful but comfortable sentences, I felt the translator helped maintain the pace of the poem.  I did not, however, enjoy the occasional use of colloquialisms which made some of the verse seem out of place or anachronistic.  I did not feel that they were incorrect or shy of the point, they, to me, seemed more of a hiccup or a speed-bump in the prose.

Newcomers Welcome!

We have a handful of new members who have notified me that they started late on the book-list but would still like to explore the Odyssey.  This is perfectly fine!  For one thing, the book-list itself was not submitted until mid-February.  Secondly, I don't want to discourage anyone from exploring the year's selections.  New members may adhere to their own schedules and may start late, read out-of-order, or even skip books.  It's the reading that counts!

For anyone who may be following (or will be following later), I am going to try to keep to the original schedule as far as postings are concerned.  This is mostly to avoid confusion or having to submit a new schedule.  New members may skip a book or do whatever is most comfortable or convenient to their own personal schedules.  Please feel free to post comments or questions regarding whatever book you are reading / have read at your own convenience.  Members are so few that it should not be a problem at this point.