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Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
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Reviewed by Arhaam Shahid
October 10, 2025
Grade 9
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Your Rating: ★★★★★
Book Tags: Gothic Horror, Dark, Tragedy, Obsession, Romanticism, Classic Literature
Plot Summary: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who is compelled by uncovering the secrets of life. After years of obsessive research, he finally unlocks the ability to animate parts of the dead. And in doing so creates his own living being, stitched together from pieces of corpses. Frankenstein believed himself to be making a superior form of life, but after looking at his creation's unattractive appearance, he abandoned it in fear. Frankenstein's monster, all alone, struggles as he is met with cruelty when searching for connection. The monster he made turns on Victor, vowing revenge against him. The monster demands that Victor become his companion. Victor refuses, and so his monster goes on to hunt him down across Europe and into the Arctic. The novel explores themes of responsibility, ambition, morality, and what it means to be human.
Personal Review: What struck me the most about Frankenstein was how sad the story truly was. In the majority of the novel's adaptations, the monster is portrayed as a mindless zombie. But in the original novel, the monster is smart, emotional, and self-aware. The monster is aware that he is hated because of how he looks. The novel paints Victor Frankenstein as less of a hero for abandoning his creation. Victor himself is also a complicated character. It is easy to understand his excitement about the discovery. But his arrogance destroys him in the end at the hands of his creation. The Gothic atmosphere and imagery also really stood out to me. The icy mountains, the lonely forests, the dark laboratories, it all made the story feel intense and haunting, like nature itself was reacting to Victor’s crime. It perfectly fits the themes of the novel. But the most heartbreaking part was how much the creature just wanted to be loved. If Victor had shown him any kindness, none of the tragedy would have happened. That's what makes this story so timeless and discussed 200 years after its initial publication.
Similar Reads: Dracula by Bram Stoker and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
