Introduction
Frankenstein, also known as The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by the Mary Shelley. For the duration of more than thirty alterations, continuations, follow-ups, overcharges, and take-offs, the name of “Frankenstein” has made its place as one of the most identifiable monster character in this world. As visualized and written by the British author Mary Shelley, Frankenstein was more of a gothic melodrama than a horror story. Thought-out in its most fundamental expressions, the story is one of measures and their after effects, and the consequences that occur when a human, overbearing pride, endeavors to take over the position of God. The book had been taken up to be made into a movie in the year 1931. After watching the film Frankenstein, one will find out that there were a few correspondences and frequent contradictions with the book. The general principle was the same: a man generates life from dead tissue. Then the creature runs away and inflicts destruction among the civilians. When the monster awakes the movie, like the book, shows the monster is well-mannered and calm until he comes to realize the fact that he is not accepted or loved. Following are some of the most apparent differences that can be found between the book and the movie. Comparison In the movie, one would find that there are more differences then finding similarities.
This is due to the fact that the movie is basically based on the 1920s play attributed to Peggy Webling rather than the original text presented by Shelley. The basic difference that is present between the book and the movie is that the creature has been basically accepted as a man instead of a monster which basically leads people into believing that the creature has been wrongly named as Frankenstein. Also different is the fact that Frankenstein accepted that he had achieved in his efforts of the creation of a man, even though he was a monster. In all of the films that have been produced related to the novel, the general idea of the creature being a part of the extension of Frankenstein’s family has been presented. In all of the productions of the novel into a movie, there has been a repetitive norm of Frankenstein claiming that he has been successful in actually creating what can be called a man. This idea along with the idea of the creature being a part of the family of Frankenstein has also been followed in later versions of the family, by actually creating a female creature as his bride and also a son. Another one of the most noted additions in to the movie is that in the book the creature taught himself how to read by making use of books related to classic literature such as Paradise Lost by Milton.
The creature in the book learns to speak in the manner of old “thee” and “thou” due to the fact that he tumbles upon the texts while he was in hiding. On the other hand, in the film created in the year 1931, the creature is completely silent. Also, in the original book, the rash behavior of the creature is due to the fact that he remains unaccepted by humans. He feels neglected and rejected in society and because of that he acts in a savage manner. But in the film, it has been portrayed that the behavior of the creature is due to the fact that the assistant of the creator that is Frankenstein’s assistant Fritz provides him with a defective brain to be used for the creation of the creature. This suggestion that the monsters behavior was completely brutal is definitely arguable as it dilutes the novel’s social criticism and depiction of developing consciousness. One would find that there are times when even though he has a defect, the creature responds to kindness with kindness as portrayed in the scene with Maria, the little girl at the lakeside. Also, the deformed assistants that have been shown in the first two films are not presented in the novel. Also, in the novel the name of the doctor is Victor and not Henry.
There also remains the fact that in the movie Victor and Elizabeth’s relationship is much stronger and they are far more physical and are very expressive about their feelings. Another difference that can be easily noted among the book and the movie is that in the movie Frankenstein or Victor steals the body parts from the reformatory, not from burial ground around the school as has been presented in the book. Also, in the book Dr. Frankenstein uses the brain of a criminal for his monstrous creature and in the movie he takes his teachers brain who was a brilliant scientist. All the way through different parts of the movie Dr. Frankenstein has an assistant, but it is just another student that he came across at school. He helps Frankenstein to a definite degree, but he still thinks he is a bit crazy trying to create life, but on the other hand in the book he does not even have a helper. What is more is that the book spends a lot of time on the creatures time used up scrutinizing the De Lacey family ( Felix, Agatha and Safie) in their small house, the movie spends just about no time screening how the monster learns how to read, write and speak. Another impression that has also been presented to the viewers is that the creature just learns what love and emotions are. Another even that does not take place in the novel is that of Elizabeth going to visit Victor during the time that he is at college. Taken as a whole, the movie and book are somewhat different. When the monster finds a young girl by the water, in preference to saving her as has been portrayed in the book, he tosses her into the water. After going through the book, one would remain entertained, open-minded, and at a loss.
Another radical difference is that in the book, Elizabeth is killed. The movie is exceedingly dissimilar from the book. Some small particulars are similar but for the most component they are absolutely different. An unusual part was how the monster was going around slaughtering people when ever he wished to do so. The monster also got an uncharacteristic brain. Perhaps that was the explanation for him going around killing people. He was not killing for the reason that he did not recognize or like human nature or because of his knowledge. The movie just held it responsible on the fact that he was a monster and he had an unusual brain. Much similarities are present between the book and the movie related to the way that the monster was created. Another common part between the book and the movie is that of when the creature makes an attempt to go kill Elizabeth. The dissimilarity is that she lived and the people of the town killed the monster. In the book, the monster learns human nature and to be well-mannered, but in the movie all he seems to do is kill. The book is a work of fiction. It represents the feelings of the creature. It shows the expansion of the creature. After Victor Frankenstein formed the creature it goes liberated.
People snub the creature and close him out of standard life. He makes an attempt to learn about human life. As can be noted by all after going through all that has been described here, there are many differences between the movie and the book. In the movie we see a whole lab along with Victor having an assistant, out of which none are present in the book. When going through the book we find that Victor creates the monster in his apartment home and there is just about no one who knows anything about it. In the movie nearly everyone knows about the creature. The names are upturned in the movie. Victor is the scientist and Henry is the friend. Basically the plot is the same in the movie and the book, an inventor injects life into an unresponsive human being. But they are dissimilar due to the fact that both of them seem to have their own objective.
On the other hand, the monster in the movie does not talk. What is said is that, the purpose of the book was not only to bring revulsion to the pits of the reader’s soul, but for one to scrutinize ones judgments and feelings. The monster is incapable of talking, and the spectators do not have the prospect to view any strand of humanity within him. One is preordained to question communal norms, as well as ones own individual belief towards those who are dissimilar. The monster is referred to as Frankenstein. In both the movie and book, a group of fuming men endeavor to hunt down the monster after Elizabeth is attacked. In place of feeling compassion, the aim of the movie is to raise horror or fear. Conclusion In the light of the above discussion we can hereby culminate that the book and the movie Frankenstein are somehow very different. The book was written by Mary Shelley and was later produced into a movie, but both of them remain very different with various omissions and additions.
Works Cited
Driscoll, Caitlin. Fine Arts. Retrieved on November 28, 2007 from: http://www.freckie.com/hsgroup/Archive/Newspaper/fine_arts.htm
