“IT’S ALIVE!” This infamous quote is most closely tied to the horrendous monster that is called “Frankenstein”, but the truth and origin of the story is far from the cinematic and Hollywood twist it took. “Frankenstein” written by Mary Shelly is a classic book that indulges into the failing relationship between father and son in a Gothic fashion during eighteenth century Switzerland.  

     The story begins with letters from Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret. The letters detail Walton’s trip as a captain on a ship that was heading to the North Pole. On his expedition, he comes across a man stranded on a sled. The stranger turns out to be Victor Frankenstein and he tells his story to the ship and crew. He tells that through a series of events, Victor created a “creature” that became the bane of his existence, but there is more to the story than what Victor claims. 

Contrary to popular belief, the creature itself is not named “Frankenstein”. It is one of the main protagonists, Victor Frankenstein, that the novel is named after. This novel is a Gothic masterpiece that looks into the meaning of being human and relationships between family. The dark twists and turns resonate with the story’s tone and setting. Readers will be amazed at this timeless Gothic story.