Retro Rants: Frankenstein

Deus Ex Machina

Do you think human beings are trash? Do you think we as a species are the best argument against the existence of a loving and caring god?

If so then guess what, fucker? Frankenstein is the book for you.

Being disgusted with your own creation along with said creation’s pining for the approval and attention of its creator are prevalent themes in Frankenstein….and that’s pretty much the entire plot as well. There I just saved you a couple of hours of your life you otherwise would’ve spent reading this book and never had back.

You’re welcome.  

Back in the day (meaning highschool) when I was in AP Lit I saved everyone else’s ass from a pop quiz by being the only one who actually read the stupid thing so, yeah, I actually enjoyed it enough to finish.

Let me be clear here: all joking and snarkiness aside I do actually recommend Frankenstein. It’s engaging, has some interesting themes, a classic story that’s been adapted into pop culture to no end, and really isn’t a long or difficult book to finish by any stretch of the imagination. Why, then, did I not particularly enjoy it enough to sing its praises outright?

It’s quite simple, dear reader: I find protagonists in gothic literature lacking in common sense.

I like Frankenstein (if that wasn’t clear from what you’ve just read) but it’s also somehow an example of both the best and the worst of what the genre has to offer. There’s horror from Victor Frankenstein at having made a monstrous creation but good lord his monster tracks him down and keeps trying to talk to him and Victor keeps telling him to fuck off to the point where the monster swears unyielding hatred and violence upon him.

Yeah you fucked up, Vick, but why not pour the butter-face you created a glass of scotch and hear what he has to say?

If you know this movie we can be friends

Yes, I know he’s trying to forget playing God in a “sinner’s remorse” sort of thing but if I gave something life and it threatened to kill the woman I loved if I didn’t grab a beer with it I’m having that fucking beer is all I’m saying.

Victor has that gothic sense of “woe is me! Alas that these tribulations and days of sorrow should be mine!” and I’m just sitting here like “quite being a dick, Vick.” Essentially this entire book, while being extremely entertaining with social and theological themes, still somehow managed to give off that B-roll horror movie vibe where someone does something stupid that you know no one would ever do in real life simply for the sake that the story may continue.

So do I recommend the book? Yes.

Are you going to be particularly surprised by the story? Not if you have cable.