Romantic Fiction

With the rise of Romanticism in literature, gothic fiction developed as a subgenre whose legacy continues to inspire intriguing tales even today. The earliest novels of gothic fiction began a tradition of dark and sinister settings, such as haunted cemeteries or cursed medieval castles, that often threaten the safety and happiness of the protagonist. True to the ideals of Romanticism, intense and passionate emotion is an important element of gothic fiction, but horror and terror are the most prominent feelings. The gothic hero or heroine is typically as brooding and passionate as other Romantic protagonists, but in gothic fiction the protagonist tends to have serious character flaws that lead him or her to pursue mad obsessions while ignoring ominous signs. Lastly, the supernatural that pervades gothic fiction may be considered as the most recognizable characteristic of gothic stories.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein embraces all of these gothic elements in addition to developing themes regarding free will, love and acceptance, and the moral obligations arising from the pursuit and potential abuse of science. Although the characters of Victor Frankenstein and his creature have evolved as art revisits them time and again, the masterpiece about life begotten on a laboratory tale continues to spellbound