Present at our Zoom meeting were Betty, Beth, Carla, Janet, Linda, Marg, Michèle and Shirley. The book discussed this month was Betty's choice, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. The book was recommended by Marnie, a friend of several of the Muse and Views members.
Our discussion was quite lively, not only about the story itself but also about Mary Shelley. She was born in 1797, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and feminist activist Mary Wollstonecraft. Her mother died shortly after her birth and she was raised by her father who encouraged her to adhere to his political theories but she also read her mother's political theories. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and is now considered a pioneer of women's rights.
In 1814 when she was only 17, Mary began a romance with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and along with Mary's stepsister moved to France with him. As Shelley was already married, they lived ostracized from society. In 1816 they married after the death of Shelley's first wife and the death of their first child. One stormy night when they were staying with Byron and other friends, Byron suggested they should see who could write the scariest ghost story. Though all started, Mary Shelley was the only one who persisted and the story of Frankenstein was conceived. It was published in 1818. Shelley edited it more than once and published an edited version in 1831 that was for a long time the more popular version but in modern times the earlier 1818 version has become the version that is read and studied.
Mary Shelley's character, scientist Victor Frankenstein, is convinced he can create a real life by connecting different body parts he acquires. He succeeds but the creature is not of his liking and he abandons it. The creature teaches himself to read and write and wants to feel love and companionship. He feels abandoned and pursues Victor and demands that he create a mate for him. Victor agrees and secludes himself to create a female creature but before completing it he is horrified by the the possible consequences of his work and destroys the unfinished female creature. His original creature vows revenge.
This novel is considered a gothic novel and many see it as the beginning of science fiction.
Some found the older literary style difficult to read but several of us were surprised at how much we enjoyed the book. Shelley has written a story that makes us question the meaning of being human, the emotions that are complex, the needs we have as humans and our need for love and companionship as is seen by the creature's demand that Victor create a mate for him. The story examines learned behaviors, how the fear of the unknown and the fear of 'otherness' guides mankind. One of our members expressed the view that though the creature is often referred to as the monster (as is seen most Hallowe'en nights), it is Victor himself who was the monster, unfeeling, abandoning his own creation.
We talked about the different interpretations of Frankenstein that have been made into movies, both as serious horror and as comedy, many of which are described in this National Post article that Beth found. It is worth the read. Janet had us listen to Monster Mash. Thank you to Betty for the book choice, it generated a lot of discussion.
