Frankenstein in its Gothic
Frankenstein is one of my most favorite classic horror films of all time, so I was intrigued when asked to do a reading of the novel. When first delving into this gothic, of course the most prominent aspect was the dialect and vocabulary used. Being written in the 1800s, the dialect is far different from how we speak today. But the diction used surpasses even the language of the time, I do believe. Of course Mary Shelley knew exactly what she was doing, while she chose her words and exaggerated them with the upmost scrutiny and care. And with this electing of words, it transforms this literary work up to the horror which the tale is about.
Thinking specifically of a scene where Shelley describes the environment in which chapter 10 commences with, as follows:
"...the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of imperial nature was broken only by the brawling waves, or the fall of some vast fragment, the thunder sound of the avalanche, or the cracking reverberated along the mountains of the accumulated ice, which, through the silent working of immutable laws, was ever and anon rent and torn, as if it had been but a plaything in their hands."
Shelley describes with such intricacy and detail, exaggerating every noun with an amplifying and heightening adjective. The use of writing with this tone allows for the actual content to be even more looming and intimidating, making every description or sentence haunting in your head. In this particular passage, she uses metaphors to emphasize the grand-ness of nature, the roughness of the sea, and the deafening and frightening sound of an avalanche forming throughout the mountains. All these metaphors could be stated in a more simplistic manner. However, the way in which they are portrayed creates a chilling feeling that builds the story continuously.
Thinking specifically of a scene where Shelley describes the environment in which chapter 10 commences with, as follows:
"...the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of imperial nature was broken only by the brawling waves, or the fall of some vast fragment, the thunder sound of the avalanche, or the cracking reverberated along the mountains of the accumulated ice, which, through the silent working of immutable laws, was ever and anon rent and torn, as if it had been but a plaything in their hands."
Shelley describes with such intricacy and detail, exaggerating every noun with an amplifying and heightening adjective. The use of writing with this tone allows for the actual content to be even more looming and intimidating, making every description or sentence haunting in your head. In this particular passage, she uses metaphors to emphasize the grand-ness of nature, the roughness of the sea, and the deafening and frightening sound of an avalanche forming throughout the mountains. All these metaphors could be stated in a more simplistic manner. However, the way in which they are portrayed creates a chilling feeling that builds the story continuously.
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