Aesthetics in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Jerold J. Abrams

Creighton University

Keywords: Frankenstein, aesthetics, sublime, Longinus, Santayana, Kant, Aristotle, Shelley, Paradise Lost, Milton

Abstract

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the brilliant scientist Viktor Frankenstein constructs and animates a gigantic and superhumanly powerful man. But upon animation, Frankenstein discovers he neglected beauty, and beholding his hideous creation flees in horror without even naming the man. Abandoned and alone the monster leaves society, yet secretly observing humanity learns language and philosophy and eventually discovers humanity’s self-understanding and his own self-understanding to be grounded in beauty rather than reason.

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Published: 2018-06-03

Issue: Vol 1 (2018): All Persons Great and Small: The Notion of Personhood in SF

Section: Yearly Theme

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