Language (Frankenstein)

This section explores the language used in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a Gothic novel that uses a rich and varied language style, combining Romanticism and elements of the Gothic tradition. The language in the novel plays a crucial role in building atmosphere, developing characters, and exploring key themes such as isolation, ambition, and the dangers of unchecked knowledge. Below is an exploration of the key aspects of the language used in Frankenstein.

Gothic Language and Atmosphere

Dark and Foreboding Descriptions: Shelley often uses dark, vivid descriptions to create a sense of foreboding and tension, typical of Gothic literature. For instance, the settings of the novel, such as the remote, icy Arctic or the desolate mountains, are described in language that evokes both beauty and terror. The harsh and sublime natural landscapes reflect the inner turmoil and isolation of Victor Frankenstein and his Creature.

Example: "I wandered through the snow-covered mountains and dreadful glaciers, my soul intoxicated with a strange mixture of pain and pleasure."

This kind of language, filled with contrasts, creates a heightened emotional intensity and reinforces the Gothic mood of the novel.

The Supernatural and Uncanny: Shelley’s language frequently invokes the supernatural and the uncanny. The Creature itself is described in grotesque and horrifying terms, emphasising its unnaturalness and the fear it evokes. The vivid descriptions of its physical appearance; "his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath",  add to the sense of horror and revulsion that permeates the novel.

Romantic Language and Nature

Sublime Nature: As a work heavily influenced by Romanticism, Frankenstein often uses nature to reflect the characters’ emotional states and highlight the sublime — the awe-inspiring beauty and power of nature. Shelley’s descriptions of natural landscapes are often poetic and expressive, reflecting the Romantic belief in the power of nature to evoke strong emotions.

Example: "The immense mountains and precipices that overhung me on every side... spoke of a power mighty as Omnipotence."

This use of sublime imagery not only sets the tone but also contrasts with Victor’s unnatural scientific ambitions. While nature is portrayed as majestic and uncontrollable, Victor’s attempt to dominate and replicate life leads to his downfall.

Contrast Between Nature and Science: Shelley often contrasts the beauty of the natural world with the artificial and dangerous world of scientific experimentation. The Creature, brought to life through scientific means, is juxtaposed with the pure, untamed power of nature, which is portrayed through poetic and elevated language. This contrast highlights one of the novel’s key themes: the dangers of humans trying to control or alter nature.

Use of Multiple Narratives and Voices

Epistolary Form: The novel is written in an epistolary form, with letters from Captain Walton framing Victor Frankenstein’s narrative. This narrative structure allows Shelley to use different voices and perspectives, adding depth to the story. Walton’s letters, Victor’s confession, and the Creature’s narrative are all conveyed in distinctive tones, reflecting the characters’ emotions and experiences.

Shifts in Narrative Voice: Shelley’s use of multiple narrators, including Victor, Walton, and the Creature, allows for different perspectives on the same events. Victor’s narrative is often marked by a sense of guilt and horror, while the Creature’s voice expresses anguish, isolation, and anger. The Creature’s use of language is surprisingly eloquent, which challenges the reader’s assumptions about its nature.

Example (Creature speaking): "I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend."

The eloquence of the Creature’s language contrasts with its monstrous appearance, forcing readers to question who the real "monster" is.

Emotional and Dramatic Language

Exaggeration and Hyperbole: Shelley often uses exaggeration and dramatic language to convey the heightened emotional states of her characters, particularly Victor. His frequent use of hyperbole reflects his intense guilt and suffering.

Example: "I bore a hell within me which nothing could extinguish."

Victor’s language reflects his inner torment and the consequences of his reckless ambition. This use of dramatic and emotive language adds to the novel’s Gothic intensity.

Emotional Language of the Creature: Despite being created from a scientific experiment, the Creature’s language is deeply emotional. It expresses its feelings of rejection, loneliness, and desire for acceptance in a way that is deeply human. This helps readers empathise with the Creature, making it a more complex and tragic figure.

Example: "I am malicious because I am miserable."

The Creature’s use of emotional and reasoned language contrasts with the common Gothic trope of an unintelligent or purely evil monster, adding to the moral complexity of the novel.

Symbolic Language and Imagery

Light and Fire: Shelley frequently uses light and fire as symbols throughout the novel. Light often represents knowledge and discovery, reflecting Victor’s pursuit of scientific enlightenment. However, fire also symbolises destruction and danger, as seen in the reference to the myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and was punished for his transgression.

Example: "What could not be expected in the country of eternal light?"

The "light" that Victor seeks represents the knowledge that leads him to create the Creature, but this same light brings about his ruin, illustrating the dual nature of scientific discovery.

Dreams and Nightmares: Victor’s dreams and nightmares are an important element of the novel’s language. Shelley uses dreams as a way of revealing Victor’s subconscious fears and guilt. For example, shortly after creating the Creature, Victor has a nightmare in which he embraces his dead mother, symbolising his subconscious understanding of the unnaturalness and horror of his actions.

Symbolism of Names

"Frankenstein": The name Frankenstein has come to symbolise the idea of a scientist who overreaches in their quest for knowledge and power. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein’s name becomes symbolic of the hubris and ambition that leads him to defy the natural order.

"The Modern Prometheus": The novel’s subtitle, The Modern Prometheus, alludes to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity and was severely punished for his actions. This reference emphasises the dangers of overreaching ambition and the consequences of defying natural or divine limits, mirroring Victor’s tragic downfall.

Formal and Elevated Style

Formal Language: Much of the language in Frankenstein is formal and elevated, reflecting the 19th-century literary style. The characters speak in long, complex sentences, often using formal rhetoric. This style gives the novel a sense of grandeur and seriousness, fitting its exploration of profound philosophical and ethical questions.

Philosophical Reflections: Shelley’s language often reflects the philosophical nature of the novel, especially in the dialogues between Victor and the Creature. The novel is filled with reflections on the nature of humanity, the consequences of ambition, and the responsibilities of creators toward their creations. These ideas are expressed through formal, reflective language, allowing the characters to explore complex moral issues.

The language of Frankenstein is rich and varied, combining elements of the Gothic and Romantic traditions to create a powerful and emotional narrative. Through her use of symbolic imagery, emotional intensity, and multiple narrative voices, Mary Shelley explores complex themes of ambition, isolation, and the consequences of scientific progress. The formal and elevated style, along with the use of dark, dramatic language, adds to the novel’s intensity and philosophical depth, making it a compelling exploration of both the human and the monstrous.