http://thecamellia.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] thecamellia.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] damned_bulletin2009-02-26 06:32 pm
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It does seem like a lot of people are from different places, and that there’s many unfamiliar things in this world here, like some of the reading material in the library. Is anyone familiar with the book Frankenstein? I’d… like to learn more about it, if someone has the free time to reply.

- Tsubaki
winged_moon: (Default)

[unsigned, but writing undisguised]

[personal profile] winged_moon 2009-02-27 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
What about it?
winged_moon: (Default)

[unsigned, but writing undisguised]

[personal profile] winged_moon 2009-02-27 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
I would rather doubt it, but given mankind's penchant for pushing the boundaries of nature, I suppose it's possible someone has tried something similar.

Why, are you planning to create an artificial human?

[identity profile] chocomancer.livejournal.com 2009-02-27 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
The tale is a tragedy, and a sorry painting of human nature. I highly recommend you read the book yourself, but if you desire only a summary, I have provided it below.



A scientist, Dr. Viktor Frankenstein, sets out to create human life through science rather than nature, stitching together portions of dead humans to construct a man of sorts, and animating it through an electric shock. However, upon the creature's awakening to consciousness, the scientist is horrified by its appearance, and flees it.

The story then follows the "monster" Frankenstein had created, as it tries (and fails) to integrate itself into human society. After several disasterous encounters with humans, it decides to study a family in secret to find out what it is doing wrong. Eventually, it comes to the realization that it is being rejected due to its hideous appearance, at which point it swears vengeance on its creator for bringing it into such a terrible existance.

The first victim of this vendetta is Dr. Frankenstein's younger brother, who - until his identity was discovered by the monster - was its best hope of being accepted by another human due to his young age and unprejudiced nature. Following this, the creature works closer and closer to the scientist, until, after it kills his newly wedded wife, Frankenstein vows to not rest until one of them is dead. They eventually end up in the frozen North, where after a struggle the Doctor is found by an exploration vessel and slowly dies of his wounds, at which point the monster retreats into the wilderness to die as well, so that no-one would ever hear of their story and try to construct human life again.
scarefaux: ([incredulous])

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[personal profile] scarefaux 2009-02-27 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
That sounds like a very sad story.

[identity profile] chocomancer.livejournal.com 2009-02-27 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
She was snowed in with some of her friends during the winter, and they entertained each other by telling ghost stories. This was one of the ones she came up with, based on a dream she had, and she eventually published it as a novel.

And it's no problem. Literature is one of my passions. :)

((Anonymous as always))

[identity profile] intoindra.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You've done a great job of summarizing the book; I don't think I could have done any better myself.

The only thing I would add is that the monster did make one last attempt to reason with Dr. Frankenstein, to live as a monster if he couldn't live as a human, but the doctor rejected even that possibility, resulting in the flight to the Arctic and the eventual death of the scientist. Really, it's a fascinating story, dealing with prejudice, heuristics, and the nature of being. Just a shame that there aren't many copies left where I come from.