A Cultural Studies Approach to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
- This blog is part of task given by Dr. Dilip Baradsir.
- Part-1 Revolutionary Births
1. The Creature as Proletarian:
Mary Shelley lived in a time of great social and political turmoil, influenced by radical thinkers like her parents and Thomas Paine. The creature in Frankenstein embodies the struggles of the oppressed, illuminating themes of class struggle and revolutionary tension.
Reflect: How does the Creature’s paradoxical nature simultaneously an innocent and a vengeful force comment on societal fears of revolution and sympathy for the suffering masses?
Mary Shelley’s Creature embodies the paradox of the oppressed in a society structured around privilege and hierarchy. Born into a world that immediately rejects and isolates him, he represents the suffering masses the “proletariat” whose basic needs for recognition, education, and companionship are denied. Initially, the Creature displays innocence: he learns language, understands human emotion, and seeks meaningful relationships, demonstrating the potential for moral and intellectual development when nurtured. However, repeated rejection and cruelty push him toward vengeance, reflecting the fears of those in power regarding the uprising of the oppressed.
This duality innocent yet vengeful comments on societal anxieties about revolution. On one hand, the Creature elicits sympathy, illustrating that neglect and injustice produce suffering; on the other, his violent retaliation embodies the perceived threat of rebellion by marginalized groups. Shelley’s narrative thus critiques a society that prioritizes scientific and social ambition over responsibility and compassion, showing that oppression creates the very danger it fears. In essence, the Creature’s experiences reveal that sympathy for the suffering masses is inseparable from fear of the consequences of systemic injustice.
Reflection:
The Creature’s journey makes me think about how society often fears those it marginalizes. His innocence shows the potential of people who are given opportunities and care, while his vengeance demonstrates how neglect and injustice can breed resentment and violence. It makes me reflect on modern parallels how systemic inequality, discrimination, and lack of access to education or resources can create tensions that society then fears or condemns. Shelley seems to be urging readers to recognize and address suffering rather than ignore it, because empathy and responsibility are essential to prevent societal collapse or unrest.
2. A Race of Devils:
The Creature's depiction draws from cultural anxieties surrounding the "Other," be it racial or otherwise. The novel explores issues of race and imperialism, with characters like Victor Frankenstein embodying a guilty, colonial mindset.
Reflect: How does Shelley’s narrative engage with concepts of race and empire, and how might these issues be relevant today in global discourses on race and privilege?
In Frankenstein, Shelley engages with the concept of the “Other” through the Creature, whose very appearance described vaguely as yellow evokes fear and revulsion. Critics like H. L. Malchow note that the Creature embodies a composite of xenophobic stereotypes, from trolls and giants to “gypsies” and Africans, reflecting contemporary anxieties about racial difference. Victor Frankenstein can be read as a guilty colonizer or slave master: he wields power over life yet refuses responsibility for his creation, mirroring imperial attitudes of domination and neglect. The novel also interacts with contemporary pseudoscientific racial theories, such as polygeny and autogenesis, illustrating the period’s obsession with hierarchy and “natural” differences.
Shelley’s critique, however, is subtle. By telling the story from the Creature’s perspective, she humanizes the marginalized and exposes the violence, fear, and prejudice inflicted by those in power. In doing so, Frankenstein interrogates the moral and social consequences of imperialism and systemic oppression, highlighting the ethical responsibility owed to those deemed “other.”
Reflection:
Reading Frankenstein through this lens made me consider how fear of difference continues to shape societal hierarchies today. Issues of race, privilege, and systemic inequality are still central to global discourse, from immigration and policing to representation and economic opportunity. Shelley’s narrative reminds us that those who are dehumanized or excluded often reflect society’s own moral failings and that empathy, responsibility, and justice are critical to addressing these imbalances.
3. From Natural Philosophy to Cyborg:
In the age of genetic engineering and biotechnology, Frankenstein becomes increasingly pertinent. The novel questions the moral and ethical boundaries of scientific discovery, a theme that resonates in contemporary debates about cloning, genetically modified births and artificial intelligence.
Reflect: How do modern scientific advancements parallel the novel's cautionary tale of human hubris, and what lessons can we learn from it?
Frankenstein explores the dangers of unbridled scientific ambition, particularly when it challenges the natural order of life and death. Victor Frankenstein’s desire to create life mirrors today’s ethical debates surrounding genetic engineering, cloning, in vitro fertilization, and artificial intelligence. Just as Victor disregards the consequences of his experiments, modern science sometimes pushes boundaries without fully considering the social, ethical, or environmental impacts. Mary Shelley’s work questions the responsibility of creators toward their creations, highlighting the potential harm when human innovation outpaces moral reflection.
Reflection:
Reading Frankenstein in the context of contemporary science makes me think about the responsibility that comes with technological power. While scientific progress can improve lives, unchecked ambition can lead to unforeseen consequences, much like the suffering caused by the Creature in the novel. Shelley’s cautionary tale reminds us that ethical foresight, empathy, and accountability are essential in scientific endeavors. As we navigate advancements in cloning, AI, and genetic modification, her warning remains relevant: just because we can do something does not mean we should, and moral responsibility must guide innovation.
- Part-2 The Frankenpheme in Popular Culture: Fiction, Drama, Film, Television
1. First Film Adaptation and Popular Retellings:
Reflect on the first cinematic adaptation of Frankenstein and how the novel has been retold in countless films, parodies, and adaptations. Why do you think Frankenstein has had such a lasting impact on popular culture? Consider how the novel’s themes have been appropriated to address modern anxieties about technology and humanity.
Think and Discuss: How have various retellings of Frankenstein reshaped its message for new audiences? How do these adaptations either retain or transform the novel’s original critique of scientific ambition and social exclusion?
The first cinematic adaptation of Frankenstein, produced by Thomas Edison in 1910, was a one-reel silent film that condensed Mary Shelley’s story into a visual narrative. While limited in scope, it established the Creature and Victor Frankenstein as central figures and set the precedent for translating the novel’s themes into a visual medium. Later adaptations, such as James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein, expanded the story, introducing new elements like the criminal brain and the assistant Fritz, while simplifying Victor’s character and emphasizing horror. These early films emphasized the dramatic, terrifying aspects of creation, appealing to audiences’ fascination with the grotesque and the uncanny.
Over time, Frankenstein has been retold in countless ways through parody, satire, children’s adaptations, television shows, and international films demonstrating the story’s cultural flexibility. For example, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein humorously reimagines the narrative while retaining the core theme of human ambition and its unintended consequences. Similarly, sci-fi films like Blade Runner or The 6th Day use the Frankensteinian framework to explore modern anxieties about artificial intelligence, cloning, and ethical responsibility in science. These adaptations reshape the novel’s message for new audiences by connecting the Creature’s experiences to contemporary social and technological fears, whether ethical dilemmas, the limits of human control over life, or questions of identity and marginalization.
Despite these transformations, many retellings retain the novel’s critique of scientific hubris and social exclusion. The Creature consistently represents the consequences of neglect, societal rejection, and ethical irresponsibility. While some adaptations emphasize horror or comedy, and others highlight technological or political concerns, the fundamental warning remains: human ambition without moral foresight can lead to suffering and chaos, and ignoring marginalized beings whether literal or metaphorical has dire consequences.
In essence, the enduring popularity of Frankenstein arises from its adaptability. Its themes of creation, responsibility, social injustice, and ethical dilemmas are universal, allowing each generation to reinterpret the story in ways that reflect their own anxieties and cultural context. The novel’s core remains relevant, showing that questions about the limits of science, the treatment of the “Other,” and the ethical obligations of creators continue to resonate across time and media.
Reflection:
Frankenstein’s lasting impact lies in its flexibility and universality. The Creature embodies the consequences of societal neglect, human ambition, and ethical irresponsibility issues that remain deeply relevant. Each retelling adapts these concerns for new audiences, whether emphasizing horror, comedy, or social critique. By doing so, adaptations retain the novel’s core warning about the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and social marginalization, even as they transform the story to reflect modern anxieties about technology, identity, and moral responsibility. The enduring fascination with Frankenstein suggests that questions about what it means to create, to belong, and to wield power responsibly are timeless and continually resonate across generations.
Reference:
- Barad Dilip. “Thinking Activity: A Cultural Studies Approach to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.” November 2024, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385485826_Thinking_Activity_A_Cultural_Studies_Approach_to_Mary_Shelley's_Frankenstein. Accessed 29 October 2025.
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