By Mary Shelley
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of the most well known examples of Gothic literature and relates to the typical attributes of a Gothic style novel. A summary of Gothic literature from the Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature provides what it was about at the time,"The most accessible model of imaginative narrative derived from the Middle Ages, a fertile period textured with contrasts great productivity and abominable crimes, piety and religious barbarism, admirable soldiery and the doings of witches, scientific innovation and the dabblings of alchemists, royal ritual and the danse macabre, and bold architecture to suit church and civic needs." The story includes many aspects of Gothic literature such as a dark mood and a new era of thought venturing out of the time of reason and into scientific discovery. In the novel a science obsessed man named Victor Frankenstein attempts to create a perfect man from the parts of cadavers.(Frankenstein) He does so in secret as such an experiment would not be supported in that era. This becomes a interesting dilemma in the story as Victor feels responsible for the creatures actions, but no one knows the creation is Victor's but Victor himself. (Frankenstein) Victor seems cut off from his family and is almost a spectator as his creation destroys all he loves. After the last one of Victor's family and friends is dead, Victor realizes that his only purpose is to get his revenge on the creature and destroy it. Victor chases his creation across Europe to the Arctic where the ice breaks up, leaving Victor stranded on it. Walton, on his voyage North, comes across Victor only to have him die after telling Walton his story.(Frankenstein)