My take is that Frankenstein is a surname, and, as Victor was the monster’s progenitor, they are both Frankenstein. If the context is clear enough for some pedant to “well, actually”, then it is clear enough to understand which Frankenstein is being discussed.
Personally I think it's ok to call the monster (or that style of monster) 'a Frankenstein' on the basis that it was created by Dr. Frankenstein the same way you'd call a painting by Picasso 'a Picasso'.
Yeah and Victor Frankenstein should be properly called Doctor Frankenstein, he didn't go to evil medical school to be refereed to as just Frankenstein.
Frankenstein -> the monster
Dr. Frankenstein -> the guy that made the monster
Frankenstein's monster doesn't deserve any sympathy; he's pure evil. I know this contradicts the opinions of the characters in the book. He does suffer mightily and unfairly despite all efforts at kindness.
The problem is that his solution is to create another to suffer as he has. He even instructs the Doctor to make her hideous like him so that she'll have no choice but to be his companion. The doctor wonders if this will be enough to stop the "bride" from going rogue.
These are the only two times in the novel anyone considers that the "bride" might have motivation or pathos of her own.
He also refers to his potential bride as the "female" which, well ya know.
Interesting way to look at the story. It certainly is an odd choice for a book written by a woman. A daughter of a notable 19th century feminist no less.
To be fair, Shelley was on some other shit... She was exceptional. I don't believe there was anyone at that time writing anything like it. She pretty much spawned entire major genres like horror and science fiction.
Oh, I may have a book (series) for you! The Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss. It starts with Mary Jekyll—the daughter of Dr. Jekyll—and expands to find Sherlock and Watson, a daughter of Hyde, Justine—the woman made to be Adam Frankenstein’s bride, and other women left in the path of various men who tested the limits of humanity. It even talks about Shelley’s book and why she might have written it as she did. The second book expands into the wife and daughter of Van Helsing.
I’m about 75% of the way through the second book and have been loving them. They’re very post-modern though, with the characters somewhat frequently interrupting the narrator to discuss the way the story is written. I love that sort of thing but know it’s not for everyone!
Hmm, I'll await your report. I was interpreting it as a creature with a brain made from atoms. In which case it could be a very heartwarming and wholesome tale that appeals to all of us creatures.
It's Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, not sure how popular that series was... The monster was named Deucalion, he was a good persona if I remember right... and he could teleport around the world.