The Monster In the Man
Most people forget that the name "Frankenstein" refers to the doctor
who created the creature - the monster himself is known mostly as Dr. Frankenstein's Monster. (Check out the classic Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, airing on AMC October 24, 25, and 28. )While this might seem like a matter of semantics, the fact that the Frankenstein name has come to be shared by both the doctor and his creation raises the interesting question of who is more evil -- the monster or the man?
Frankenstein's Monster has seen many lives, from the classic 1931 Frankenstein and the campy Flesh for Frankenstein to the goofy fun of Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster and Young Frankenstein. At some point in virtually every film, Dr. Frankenstein screams, "It's alive! It's alive!" as lightening crackles and his monster, stitched together from deceased bodies, awakens.
Playing God, Dr. Frankenstein breathes life into his own creation, only to have it run amuck. Dr. Frankenstein embodies our desire for control over our own world but shows how even the best laid plans can go horribly wrong.
Frankenstein's Monster is the original problem child. In the Boris Karloff original, it's not that Frankenstein's Monster was a heartless killing machine; though he did kill the little girl picking flowers, it was more misunderstood than malicious. The Monster is an unknowing, bumbling brute and the response of the mob is to kill him. Just as Doctor Frankenstein reflects our desire for control, Frankenstein's Monster reflects our fear and hatred of something we don't understand.
In Mary Shelley's original novel title, "Frankenstein" had the subtitle of "The Modern Prometheus." As everyone (who studies Greek mythology) knows, Prometheus was a titan who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals (thanks Wikipedia). Doctor Frankenstein found the keys to creation and let it loose on society. While fire ended up working out for us in the long run, animating a body made of dead bodies is a bit too far fetched for most people, especially when the original was released in 1931.
Today, Frankenstein and his Monster are a horror staple, welcomed with open arms.
To me, most certainly the man is more evil. I have always felt nothing but sympathy for the creature (I hesitate to even call him "monster"), even when he kills people. Shelley's creature was an intelligent, well-spoken being who desired to be accepted and even loved. His rejection by his creator turned to bitter hatred, which I have always felt was justified. He was essentially rejected and abandoned by his "father". I think Branaugh's version is a wonderful portrayal of showing Frankenstein as a young man in over his head, and De Niro gives the creature a humanity and brutality inspired by both the original story and Karloff's performance.
When reading the story for classes in school, we were always told that our sympathies were to lie with Frankenstein, as he was a young man who made a mistake. I think the movies do a much better job of showing Frankenstein as an arrogant person who tried to play God. Especially the Hammer films. Their focus on Frankenstein the man rather than the creature is a rather fascinating portrait of an increasing descent into madness. Each film shows Frankenstein getting more desperate and cruel and doing more insane and vile things, until it culminates in 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell' in which the doctor is committed to an insane asylum but does not stop his usual tricks--resulting in a grotesque, over-the-top creature and many gruesome, horrific scenes. Even so, with Hammer, the man really is the monster in every movie no matter what, and Cushing is excellent in each film as the chilling, diabolical Dr. Frankenstein, even as the quality of the films deteriorated.
Many of us have stated on this blog why we like Frankenstein and why we think the story endures. I would also like to add that in our advanced world of medicine and cloning and gene studies, are we really so different from Frankenstein now? I don't mean to be philosophical, and I certainly am an advocate of science and research, but I think it can be argued that perhaps Frankenstein is a sort of cautionary tale for our times: how far do we want to go? How much do we want to play God? Another question is can we learn from Frankenstein's mistakes?
Fantastic post! Thank you.
Loved this post! And Court! Loved your questions at the end!!! You both did a fabulous job. Posts and comments like Court's keep me coming back to this site.
JM today reminded me a bit of Pt. Also reminded me of the English classes I miss so much now. Keep it up AMC!
Wow, Court. You really thought that all out, eh? I enjoyed reading both your comments and Jason Morgan's post. Very good read and thought provoking.
It's just too bad none of the Hammer or Universal Frankenstein films will be playing during Monsterfest this year. Good thing for DVDs, eh?
Yeah, I'm kind of passionate (or nerdy, depending on your point of view) about Frankenstein. They took down the post after I commented on it originally, and I thought, "Oh crap, did I blather on too much?" Rather embarrassing. I'm glad they put it back up because Jason makes some great points in here and I'm happy everyone can see it!
Yeah Malice...glad for the dvds. I do miss seeing our old favorites on tv.
Here's a book all us Franken-freaks might love: 'Frankenstein: A Cultural History' by Susan Tyler Hitchcock. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393061442/ref=s9_flash_image_seed/002-8819830-2962400?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1Z8DD2CQJXJDSX10H988&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=311498401&pf_rd_i=507846 Anybody at Monstefest seen this yet?