Critical Context

The author of this critical essay believes that this book is considered gothic. I agree in many ways. When I think of the term gothic, I think of adjectives like dark, eerie, and frightening, all which would describe this book. Victor Frankenstein starts working on his monster by digging up graves late at night and getting random body parts to put together. The place he does this is in a castle with dungeons that can be considered very eerie. The author of this essay said, “Gothic novels also take place in gloomy places like old buildings (particularly castles or rooms with secret passageways), dungeons, or towers that serve as a backdrop for the mysterious circumstances.” The supernatural element is also a factor of gothic literature. Frankenstein was able to build a monster with his own hands out of stuff that was not living. I believe this book had a very prominent gothic theme.