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Mary Shelley s Frankenstein is representative of the gothic genre, and has influenced film and literature, particularly the television program Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The novel s genre can be determined through the identification of gothic conventions and characteristics within the novel such as sinister settings, fascination with the unconscious and abnormal psychology and the atmosphere of fear and horror. These characteristics can also be found in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, thus proving the novels influence. Gothicism is part of the Romantic Movement that started in the late eighteenth century and lasted roughly three decades into the nineteenth century. The Romantic Movement is characterised by innovation, spontaneity, freedom of thought and expression, an idealization of nature and the belief of living in an age of new beginnings and high possibilities.
The word Gothic has a multiplicity of definitions, however, the gothic novel is a world of nightmare, and that nightmare is created by the individual who is in conflict with values of the prevailing society, it often represents a psychological reaction to evil that leads its characters into a moral ambiguity, for which no meaningful answers can be found. Several gothic conventions include; the supernatural, nocturnal activity, inclement weather and the portrayal of darkness, both physical darkness and the darkness that is part of the atmosphere of the story, which can be created from such elements as a characters actions the themes of the story. Indeed, these conventions are present within Mary Shelley s Frankenstein. A gothic characteristic found within the novel is the sinister setting and atmosphere. The opening sentence in Frankenstein sets the atmosphere for the entire novel. Shelley begins with, You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings (p. 13).
At this point in the novel, Walton is exploring the North Pacific Ocean, journeying to the North Pole. He is trapped by ice and the landscape is barren. When we are introduced to the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein his childhood is portrayed as warm and loving. As Victor travels to Ingolstadt in pursuit of medical knowledge, the setting and atmosphere of the novel becomes darker, in contrast to the atmosphere and setting of his childhood. When construction of the creature begins, Victor describes his workshop as a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation (p. 53). He goes on to describe the dissecting room and slaughter-house (p. 53) that provided his material.
This also adds to the sinister setting and evil undertones of the novel. The second characteristic of the gothic is the fascination with the unconscious and abnormal psychology. This includes secrets and crime, both of which share the spotlight in Frankenstein. The principal secret in the novel is the existence of the creature, which ultimately leads to the demise of Victors loved ones. An example of this is the lack of warning Frankenstein gave Elizabeth about the monster, which ultimately could have saved her. When Victor finally tells his secret to Walton, we cannot help but think that Frankenstein has had a burden lifted and he dies soon after.
One of the ways the theme of the unconscious is depicted is the insanity that Victor finds himself stuck in. After the death of Clerval, Frankenstein is put in prison. He doesnt remember much of the time that he was in his cell, but he says, I lay for two months on the point of death: my ravings, as I afterwards heard were frightful; I called myself the murderer of William, of Justine, and of Clerval (p. 171). He goes on in great description about the insanity and terror that he felt. The crime aspect of this characteristic can also be seen through the above quotation. The creature kills four people in revenge, and in the end kills himself and his creator.
Victor also committed a crime when he created the monster. He didnt think about how humanity or the creature would be affected by his evil science. The third characteristic is the atmosphere of fear and horror. This is the most obvious of all the themes present in the novel. Victor s fear is constantly portrayed as he is constantly looking over his shoulder to see if he is being followed. The description of the creatures dead eyes is mentioned many times to emphasise the frightening appearance of the creature.
Frankenstein s description of the creature also contributes to the atmosphere of fear and horror: His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these formed a contrast with his watery eyes (p. 56). Victors fear of the monster is reminiscent of The Tell Tale Heart, a story by Gothic writer, Edgar Allen Poe. When the creature tells Frankenstein, I will be with you on your wedding night (p. 163) Victor hears this phrase repeating over and over in his head. The repetition of the threat uttered by the monster is much like a heartbeat driving Victor insane.
Victor feels a sense of guilt about creating this hideous being that roams the earth to kill, much like the guilt the killer feels in Poe s story. These characteristics evident in Mary Shelley s Frankenstein have influenced such texts as Bram Stokers Dracula and Anne Rice s Vampire Chronicles. However, a clear influence of Shelley s novel can be found in a particular episode of television program, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the episode entitled Some Assembly Required we are confronted with the story of a gifted science student, Chris bringing his dead brother, Daryl back to life with the use of electrotherapy. The now reborn Daryl seeks a companion who will appreciate him and share his physical appearance, so Chris and an accomplice must begin creating the perfect woman, seizing body parts by whatever means necessary including murder and body snatching. Some Assembly Required is obviously influenced by Mary Shelley s Frankenstein in that it shares themes, stereotypical characters and a similar plot to the novel.
In addition to this, the episode also contains the three characteristics of the gothic genre that were evident in Mary Shelley s Frankenstein. The sinister settings of Some Assembly Required include the dark basement of a suburban home, abandoned carpark's and buildings and the local cemetery. Secrets and crime are also evident in the episode, through the secret of the revitalization of Daryl, and the crime of body snatching. The atmosphere of fear and horror is also present in the episode. The very idea of exercising such macabre acts as body snatching and experimenting with corpses creates an atmosphere of horror, while the preying of female victims by Chris and his accomplice created an atmosphere of fear in the episode.
It is clear that Mary Shelley s Frankenstein influenced this episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as it shares themes, stereotypical characters and a similar plot to Shelley s novel and contains the three characteristics of the gothic genre also found in Shelley s novel. Therefore, it is obvious that Mary Shelley s Frankenstein is representative of the gothic genre as it contains conventions of gothic literature, and possesses gothic characteristics. The novel has indeed influenced literature and film, in particular the episode Some Assembly Required in the television program, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. By way of themes, stereotypical characters and similar plot as well as the presence of gothic characteristics the influence the novel has had is easily observed.
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