Victor Frankenstein, a scientist from Geneva, creates a sentient creature during his studies in Ingolstadt. Horrified by his creation, he abandons it, leading the creature to seek revenge on Frankenstein and his loved ones due to isolation and mistreatment. Their ensuing conflict drives them into a relentless, tragic pursuit in the Arctic. The novel includes references to suicide, violent death, and gross physical deformity.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is widely praised for its innovative narrative and profound exploration of human ambition and ethical boundaries. Critics commend its complex characters and Gothic atmosphere. However, some find the pacing uneven and certain plot elements implausible, which detracts from the overall impact. The novel remains a landmark in literary history.

Readers who delight in Gothic fiction, existential themes, and exploring the consequences of unchecked ambition will enjoy Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Fans of Bram Stoker's Dracula or Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde will find similar atmospheres and moral introspections.

Mysterious / Dark / Melancholic / Unnerving / Contemplative

- Mary Shelley started writing Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus when she was just 18 years old, and it was published when she was 20.
- The idea for Frankenstein was conceived during a ghost story competition with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori while they were staying at the Villa Diodati in Switzerland.
- Frankenstein is often credited as one of the earliest science fiction novels, exploring the boundaries of scientific exploration and ethical responsibility.

**Victor Frankenstein**  
Victor Frankenstein is the primary protagonist of *Frankenstein*. From a wealthy and respectable family in Geneva, he spends his idyllic childhood with loved ones like Elizabeth Lavenza and Henry Clerval. A "thirst for knowledge" leads him to attempt creating life, which results in unintended consequences.

**The Creature**  
The unnamed creature, made from reanimated matter, is a central figure in *Frankenstein*. Initially benevolent, he turns violent due to rejection and isolation. He seeks revenge on his creator, Victor Frankenstein, and grapples with his identity, being compared to biblical figures like Adam and Satan.

**Robert Walton**  
Robert Walton is an amateur ship captain whose letters frame the narrative of *Frankenstein*. Ambitious and idealistic, he befriends Victor Frankenstein when he finds him near death. Walton is warned by Victor against excessive ambition.

**Henry Clerval**  
Henry Clerval is Victor Frankenstein’s childhood friend in *Frankenstein*, known for his kindness and noble spirit. He is a foil to Victor, contrasting in background and interests but sharing a similar ambition for glory and adventure.

**Elizabeth Lavenza**  
Elizabeth Lavenza is the adopted daughter of Frankenstein's family in *Frankenstein* and Victor's intended. Known for her beauty and calming demeanor, she embodies 19th-century ideals of femininity and selflessness, forming a deep bond with Victor from childhood.

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