InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network
This year is the bicentennial of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus, a landmark of science fiction and Gothic literature. I’ve already touched on the book earlier this summer while discussing Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom (a follow-up to my coverage of Jurassic World. But after reading Mike Stell’s great review last week, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for one last look at the book, especially on Halloween.
[Read more…] about Science Corner: The Making of a Monster
This year marks the 200th anniversary of one of my favorite books – Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Actually, its full title is Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus. And that is a good reminder that this novel is really about Frankenstein the man, not about his creation. Frankenstein is the one who steals from the gods (God?) the ability to create life from that which is lifeless. And, as long as we are clearing up misconceptions, the novel is not about re-animating the dead, as is often popularly shown in the movies, but about the formation of a new being from parts that were not necessarily even human. Early in the narration of his creation, Frankenstein says, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent nations would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs†(61,62). This last sentence in particular is full of dark foreboding because gratitude is an emotion which his creation never feels. [Read more…] about Book Review: Frankenstein