The Gothic Nature of the story Frankenstein

The main gothic elements of Frankenstein are the dark and desolate setting of the scenes and the isolation of the characters in the story. As Victor Frankenstein begins creating the monster, the circumstances surrounding the process are shrouded in mystery; the collecting of body parts for experimentation and the use of new technology with supernatural intentions.

The setting of Frankenstein, set in Switzerland and Germany, but in the less explored arctic regions and in the labs both gave the reader a sense of gloom and mystery. As people were unaccustomed to these regions and probably do not spend their everyday lives in a dark lab trying to raise the dead, these elements leave the reader feeling a little on edge.

On the note of raising the dead, that alone is enough to give readers goose bumps. Shelley uses this gothic element to instill terror in the reader, as they read about Victor searching for body parts in the dark of the night, setting up a sense of foreboding for the future of the characters involved in the story. This connection between the mortal and supernatural world is another element of gothic nature that leaves the reader feeling a little disturbed. Giving Frankenstein some sort of unrecognized method of communication between him and his master combined with heightened speed abilities make him an extraordinary force in the gothic nature of Frankenstein.