109 Outstanding Frankenstein Essay Topics

frankenstein drama essay

Welcome to the Frankenstein Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here, you’ll find a selection of top ideas, questions, and titles for any academic paper. We have topics about Frankenstein’s literary analysis, characters, themes, and more.

  • 🔬 Literary Analysis
  • 🎭 Characters
  • đź“Š Compare & Contrast
  • 🗺️ Navigation

🎓 References

Frankenstein is a famous novel, and students will often have to write papers about it. If you have received such an assignment, this article is for you! When writing a Frankenstein literary analysis essay , there are many areas you can consider, such as characters, themes, and context. Below, we have provided 99 outstanding ideas that you can use for your assignment or to find inspiration. Don’t forget to illustrate your arguments with quotes from text when writing your Frankenstein literary analysis.

🔬 Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

  • What are the literary devices used to create the image of Victor Frankenstein ?
  • What literary devices are used to create the image of the Monster?
  • What is the importance of setting in Frankenstein ?
  • Romanticism in Frankenstein : the use of poetry in the novel’s narrative
  • Who is the narrator of Frankenstein , and why is the narration important?
  • Narrative technique in Frankenstein .
  • Nature symbolism in Frankenstein .
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a tragedy
  • How does weather reflect the narrative of Frankenstein ? Give examples.
  • What does fire symbolize in Frankenstein ?
  • How is the power of nature depicted in Frankenstein ?
  • What is the purpose of letters in Frankenstein ?
  • The importance of allusions in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .
  • Biblical symbolism in Frankenstein .
  • Why is Frankenstein called Modern Prometheus?
  • Point of view in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Frankenstein : a deconstructive reading
  • Analyze the romantic elements in Frankenstein .
  • Is Frankenstein a gothic novel?
  • What literary devices are used to create fear in Frankenstein ?
  • What is the writing style of Frankenstein ?
  • Examine the role of suspense and foreshadowing throughout Frankenstein . Do you think these devices are effective?
  • How does foreshadowing differ among the three main narrators of Frankenstein (Walton, Victor, and the Monster)?
  • What is the purpose of the ring composition of Frankenstein ?
  • How does Mary Shelley ’s Frankenstein allude to the myth of Prometheus?
  • How is Frankenstein a romantic and horror novel?
  • What role do letters from Elizabeth play in Frankenstein ‘s narrative?
  • What would the novel be like if it was narrated by only Frankenstein or only the monster ?
  • What does the novel gain from having so many levels of narration? Why do you suppose it might have been structured with so many embedded narratives?
  • In what ways and for what ends does Mary Shelley utilize the myth of Prometheus in her novel, Frankenstein ?
  • Three Separate Narratives within Shelley’s Frankenstein
  • Frankenstein : Weather, Seasons, and Emotional Symbolism

🎭 Frankenstein Essay Topics: Characters

  • How are women depicted in Frankenstein ? How does Shelley make them look passive?
  • Why isn’t Frankenstein ’s monster given a name?
  • Who is the real monster in Frankenstein ?
  • Is Frankenstein ’s monster responsible for the characters’ deaths ?
  • What did the childhood of Victor Frankenstein look like? What role does it play in the narrative?
  • Does the monster’s eloquence and persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize with him? Why do you think most film versions of the story present the monster as mute or inarticulate?
  • Trace the similarities between Victor Frankenstein and the Monster . Consider their respective relationships with nature, desires for family , and any other important parallels you find.
  • Do Victor and the Monster become more similar to Frankenstein ‘s plot? How does their relationship with each other develop?
  • Victor attributes his tragic fate to his relentless search for knowledge. Do you think that this is the true cause of his suffering?
  • Why does Shelley describe all female characters in Frankenstein as self-sacrificing and passive?
  • Who is more human, the Monster of Frankenstein ?
  • Analyze the motivations of the main characters in Frankenstein .
  • Victor and the Monster feature radically different perspectives on the events of Frankenstein . Whose viewpoint do you support?
  • Is the Creature’s demand for a female companion a valid request? Examine the pros and cons of Victor’s compliance.
  • After watching the she-monster torn to pieces, the Creature vows that Victor will “repent of the injuries (he) inflicts. Is the Creature justified in his feelings? Why or why not?
  • What role does Elizabeth play in Frankenstein ?
  • What is the motivation behind Victor’s vow to find and destroy his creature? Has he learned any lessons?
  • Discuss the humanity of Frankenstein ‘s Monster.
  • What role does Justine Moritz play in the novel?
  • What is the Monster’s experience of meeting people? How do they react? Why is it so?
  • How does the Monster learn to read and speak? What is his motivation?
  • What role does Safie play in Frankenstein ? Look at her situation from the feminist perspective. She considers marrying a Christian as the only way to become a freer woman. What does this fact tell us about the society she lives in?
  • Why does the Monster kill William Frankenstein?
  • Examine the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his monster. How do they interact and communicate with each other?
  • How does the creature of Frankenstein form the archetypal monster/horror character?
  • “Victor Frankenstein and the Monster share the same personality: like father, like son”. Defend or attack this statement.
  • How does Walton’s narration affect the story? How does it affect your interpretation of characters and events?
  • Do you think that the monster has free will? Provide textual examples in support of your claim.

🌻 Frankenstein Essay Topics: Themes

  • How is the theme of loneliness depicted in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley?
  • Discuss the role of sickness in the novel. Victor often seems to fall ill after traumatic events. Is this a means of escape, and, if so, is it effective?
  • In what ways does Frankenstein present science and knowledge as dangerous and destructive ?
  • How is the idea of exploration revealed in Frankenstein ?
  • Responsibility as a Theme in Frankenstein
  • How are the dangers of obsession shown in Frankenstein ?
  • What ethical concerns the use of animal and human bodies by Victor Frankenstein might raise?
  • Analyze Frankenstein through the prism of feminist theory
  • Describe the theme of kindness and compassion in Frankenstein
  • Frankenstein : the theme of birth
  • To what extent does Frankenstein support Mary Wollstonecraft’s claim that women were treated as inferior to men?
  • Homosexuality in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Science is portrayed in a bad light in the novel Frankenstein . The author implies that the direction that civilization moves in is determined by what it understands about power. Analyze this statement in relation to the current society.
  • Does Frankenstein present the value of the domestic circle?
  • Describe how the theme of ambition is presented in Frankenstein .
  • Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein states that he had no choice, that he was destined, that it was fate that he created the monster. Were his actions really a matter of fate? Or is he simply using fate as an excuse for his actions?
  • Critical analysis of human Nature in Frankenstein , as it Connects to Freudian Psychology
  • Scientific inquiry in Frankenstein
  • Frankenstein as a feminist novel
  • Desire and revenge in Frankenstein and Prometheus
  • The theme of knowledge portrayed in Frankenstein

⌛ Frankenstein Essay Topics: Context

  • Describe how Mary Shelley’s life experiences influenced the story of Frankenstein
  • What is the historical relevance of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley? Find in the text the examples of reactions to the historical movements of the Enlightenment , industrial revolution, and romanticism.
  • How are the ideas of Shelley’s parents presented in Frankenstein ?
  • How does Frankenstein rely on the ideas, beliefs, and issues presented in other texts?
  • How might Frankenstein be read as a commentary on scientific progress?
  • Historical Context in Frankenstein
  • Frankenstein : the autobiography of Mary Shelley?

đź“Š Compare & Contrast Frankenstein Essay Questions

  • Compare and contrast Frankenstein and The Last Man by Mary Shelley
  • Science & Nature in Frankenstein & Blade Runner
  • How is the theme of revenge shown in Frankenstein and Hamlet ?
  • Frankenstein : compare the novel with the movie of 1937
  • Compare Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer vs. Frankenstein : compare & contrast
  • Compare Frankenstein and Macbeth
  • Make a comparison of The Handmaid’s Tale and Frankenstein
  • Which Frankenstein movie is most like the book?
  • Macbeth & Frankenstein : compare & contrast
  • Discuss the differences and similarities between Victor Frankenstein and Beowulf
  • Compare and contrast Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Robert Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde .
  • How has Frankenweenie , a film by Tim Burton, transformed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to appeal to modern audiences?
  • Frankenstein vs. Great Expectations : compare & contrast
  • From superhuman to posthuman: The gothic technological imaginary in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis
  • Science, gender and otherness in Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation
  • Compare and contrast the theme of appearances in Frankenstein to the same theme in other literary works.
  • Monstrous characters in Frankenstein and Hedda Gabler
  • Pity and revenge in Frankenstein and The Cry of the Children
  • Technology’s effect on human relationships: comparing Station Eleven and Frankenstein
  • Gender roles in Frankenstein and Fantomina
  • Choosing a Topic: Purdue OWL
  • Selecting a Topic: UM-Flint
  • Introduction to Research: Cornell University
  • Find a Topic Idea: Questia
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Frankenstein: style

Style of the play.

Frankenstein is an example of the Gothic horror genre, a style recognised by its use of dark, foreboding settings, mystical elements, and exploration of the macabre and the unknown.

There’s a strong emphasis on atmosphere and horror , highlighted by ominous scenic details, stark lighting, and unnerving sound effects in many stage adaptations.

Shared Characteristics with Other Works by Mary Shelley

Along with the gothic horror elements, Frankenstein also shares Romantic qualities seen in Shelley’s other works, emphasising deep emotional responses, the sublime nature, and intake of the natural world.

Frankenstein illustrates Shelley’s intense interest in the scientific innovations of her time and her cautionary outlook towards their extensive use.

Theatrical Devices and Techniques

The play often makes use of tableaux and stylised movement to offer deeper insight into the characters and their conflicts.

The style uses a mixture of symbolism and expressive realism , wherein realistically embodied characters interact within symbolic settings. For instance, the creature often lurks on a dimly lit outskirts of the stage, symbolising its social and emotional isolation.

The play is an example of a frame narrative , which begins and ends with Captain Walton’s letters. This narrative approach offers various perspectives and allows for complex reflection on themes and character motivations.

The non-linear timeline keeps the audience engaged, revealing critical character motivations and plot details through sudden revelations and flashbacks.

Stage Setting and Visuals

Frankenstein is a visually striking play; its visual style often relies on striking contrasts. For instance, the stark, shadowy scenes where Frankenstein’s creature is brought to life are sharply contrasted with visually rich, brightly lit scenes that depict Geneva society.

The set design often features an array of scientific instruments and the eerie laboratory is an emblematic setting, speaking volumes about Victor Frankenstein’s ambitions and obsessions.

frankenstein drama essay

Frankenstein

Mary shelley, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Family, Society, Isolation Theme Icon

In its preface, Frankenstein claims to be a novel that gives a flattering depiction of "domestic affection." That seems a strange claim in a novel full of murder, tragedy, and despair. But, in fact, all that tragedy, murder, and despair occur because of a lack of connection to either family or society. Put another way, the true evil in Frankenstein is not Victor or the monster , but isolation. When Victor becomes lost in his studies he removes himself from human society, and therefore loses sight of his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. The monster turns vengeful not because it's evil, but because its isolation fills it with overwhelming hate and anger. And what is the monster's vengeance? To make Victor as isolated as it. Add it all up, and it becomes clear that Frankenstein sees isolation from family and society as the worst imaginable fate, and the cause of hatred, violence, and revenge.

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Discussing a play based on Mary Shelleys book Frankenstein.

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Centre Number: 98007        

Centre Name: Liina Tiri

Candidate Number: 0034

Frankenstein

  Our drama group watched a play based on Mary Shelley’s book “Frankenstein” on 29 th  November 2006, which took place in the Regent’s School, Pattaya. It was directed by Paul Stebbings, an artist director of TNT theatre Britain and The American Drama Group Europe.

The production “Frankenstein” was about a young and mad scientist who tries to create a life form from dead human body parts. He tries to do what no other human being has never achieved before. Once, he had completed his objective, Frankenstein was terrified by the resulting look of his creation. The innocent, child-like monster was abandoned by his master and subsequently misjudged by the community. This tragedy that the scientist’s creation suffered under, turned him into a ‘killer-monster’. In the end of the play, the scientist was punished: his beloved wife dies through a bullet that was meant for the monster. Frankenstein was devastated due to the loss of his partner, therefore he tried to bring her back to life as he did for the monster. He succeeded. However Elizabeth had the same features as the monster: she had no idea how the world is functioning - she was as a newborn. Elizabeth had a choice to make between Frankenstein and the monster. As the punishment for his actions, Elizabeth chooses the monster.

The director makes the old-fashioned myth futuristic through using machinery as props. This kind of equipment could have not existed hundreds of years ago. On the other hand the machinery wasn’t very convincing either, because it looked more like a white small paper box with some buttons. In order to achieve an outstanding effect on the audience, the mechanism should’ve been larger with several different coloured switches. However, even though the equipment was simple, the basic effect was achieved.

Paul Stebbings has modernized the play also by the appearance of two scientists in white gowns carrying syringes in the beginning of the play. This instantly created a very rationalized and futuristic atmosphere.

The director used cloning in order to modernize the Mary Shelley’s play “Frankenstein”.

        

The genre of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is tragedy, but Paul Stebbings, the director of the play, has added elements of farce, making this serious issue with difficulties understandable to many different audiences.

After looking more in detail of the content of the play, I realize that Frankenstein myth is not about a mad scientist above mortality and who is out of control. The myth is rather about a scientist, a man who creates a supernatural life-form. This creature looks hideous with his inhumanly yellow eyes and callously black lips. The sight of him created pitiless and disgusted feelings in Frankenstein – he instantly abandoned the monster. He was thrown to the ferocious community that changed the unaffected creature into a ‘killer-monster’. This play is about human folly, which is put across by comedy and melodrama. The actors never make jokes; the comedy rather arises from the situation. The physical theatre and expressional performance appear very amusing to the audience. I find it to be a very smart technique, because it keeps the audience concentrated. This technique also refers to the fact that the play is addressed to different audiences - the situations and events are clearer and easier to understand, because the action and feelings is emphasized. This perfect example for this would be when Frankenstein and Elizabeth were flirting in the beginning of the play. Strong physical theatre was used in this scene, which immediately suggested to the audience that they were in love. However, I thought that it was over exaggerated. I think it made the performance look too comedic.  

It’s very interesting how the farce is created only in the beginning of the play – towards the end the atmosphere takes a rather tragic direction. It symbolizes the fact that until the birth of monster, everything was liberated, almost as if Frankenstein had no responsibilities, and exciting. For example Elizabeth was playing with the animals, Frankenstein’s name was given to a monkey and, Frankenstein and Elizabeth were flirting with each other. However, when it was time to take care of his actions, he failed to do so. This recalls the content of the play, the human folly: as soon as the experiment ended, he disliked the outcome and deserted the monster. This is, I believe, what the director wanted to achieve with the production: leave the audience thinking. Is it right to create supernatural human beings? Why? Did Frankenstein act reasonably – not taking the responsibility? Why did the supernatural life form develop into a ‘killer-monster’?

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The director has broken up the scenes by lights fading black. This is an element of tragedy – leaves the audience wondering and awaiting for something more dreadful to happen. The slow blackouts also indicate the time passing by, which gives clearer understanding of the timeline to the viewers. As the days, weeks go by, the monster develops his intelligence and the acknowledgement of the world.

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 The stage in the Regent’s School Pattaya is based on Shakespeare’s theatre in London, ‘The Globe’. About 2/5 of the stage is surrounded by the audience and the set up of the auditorium is Elizabethan theatre, including one stair case on left and right. The lights were placed in the middle and in the two sides of the ceiling, surrounding the stage. The stage itself is rather small, but very suitable for this play, because it did not require too much space. When we first entered the hall, nobody was concentrated on the stage, because the play hadn’t started yet. From the very beginning of the play actors made good use of the area that they were given: they walked amongst the audience and interacted with them. This efficiently grabbed the attention of the viewers and made them feel more involved, as well as showed the director’s unique style and space use.

Throughout the whole play, the set was quite simple, symbolic and naturalistic. There was more than one set throughout the production. The changes were handled by the actors within the scenes (when smaller adjustments took place) and between the breaks (in case when the set changed completely). The set of the first scene consisted of a cage (multi-functional), two stools, a machine (which was multi-functional – also used as a table) and a bucket. All the items were satisfactorily spaced out.

In the beginning of the play, the cage seemed very simple, but as I further examined it had many uses in different situations. It was used as laboratory equipment, where they carried out an experiment with the monkey. Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s father and Frankenstein wanted to kill the monkey with the machine and bring him back to life. But unfortunately they failed. The cage was also used as a prison, when Frankenstein was captured and accused for the murder of the laundry lady. But the main application of this item was cage itself where they kept and created the monster. The machine  symbolized the futurism of the play as it was full of electricity and represented high technology. Whereas the costumes and the basic views on life in the play, suggested a rather historical set. Further in the play, the machine had another sub-use – a table. The set combined with the props created a good image where the action was taking place. It was very clear to the audience that stage was meant to be a laboratory. The general colours of the set were grey and white, which created a rather cold feeling towards the play and suggested that all the surrounding and action is going to be concentrated on science. Contrasting with the colours, the set included wild animals.

The lighting was provided from three different directions. They were set out in the middle and on the two sides of the stage, so that the audience couldn’t actually notice the illumination source. In addition some extra lights were supplied from the back of the auditorium to give some better light to the audience in order to be see the action on the stage in a clearer way. All through the play the colours as well as the focus and direction of the light on the stage changed. This drew the audience’s attention on the main action, wherever it occurred on the stage.

 In the beginning of the play, the spotlight is on the narrator. The rest of the lights are off. This highlights the narrator and the audience focuses on her.

 There is also the flashing lightning used to create an impression of storm, during the creation of the monster. ‘Storm’ creates a frightening and terrifying atmosphere to the audience. It emphasizes the fact that bringing a dead body alive is against human nature and should not be done, because usually during storms terrible accidents happen and it always has negative effects on environment.

 Special colours of the lightning were used during the play. All of them created a different impression on the audience. The red light was used when Elisabeth had a dream. The futuristic colour suggested that she was hearing and envisioning the upcoming events. As the light was red, which is commonly known as the colour of blood, it emphasized a negative future, somebody’s death.

 During the scene, where the monster was threatening and alarming Frankenstein, the lightning was set up only on one side of the stage – where the action was taking place. It was a wise decision because there was neither large amount of movement nor the props to cover the whole stage. The lights were blue in colour, which emphasized the relationship between the monster and Frankenstein. It was cold. There was no love or caring feelings between the two main characters.

 The change in the lightning also represented the different times of the day. The dim, more concentrated on the action lightning in present suggested that it was an evening. For example, when the monster was dancing with the blind woman, full lights were illuminated on the stage. This suggested that the action was taking place during the afternoon or morning. Therefore bright light suggested that it was daytime.

 Blackouts helped the actors to change the set of the scene as well as showed to the audience that more time has passed (meaning days or weeks). Just before and during the scene where the monster was pressuring and threatening Frankenstein, the other actors, Elizabeth and the backstage staff were removing one of the man props, cage, from the set.

Most of the sound effects used were recorded sounds. The acoustics of the auditorium was reasonably good, because it was heard until the end of the audience’s sitting area. It felt as if it is all around me, not coming from only one source – the sound was echoing in the auditorium. The loudspeakers weren’t visible for the audience, which is positive point to mention.

The music used in the play was very modern, upbeat/dance and rhythmic. It’s other evidence of the futurism of the play. It contrasts greatly with the characterization of the actors, which is rather old-fashion. Elizabeth was wearing a red Victorian dress, which is another significant comparison of the music. At Victorian time such music did not existing. Even though the director wanted put across the idea of cloning, but at the same time maintain the old roots of the myth, through contrasting the music and costumes, I think that it ruined the atmosphere. The mood was mixed with nineteenth century and modern fresh and busy life.

The serious and technical illustration of the stage was combined with the upbeat/dance music. The stage had a scientifical image: it included machinery, for bringing the monster alive, and it was quite simple (meaning that it wasn’t packed with props).  I found it quite unnatural mixture, because the common and usual image of any laboratory is quiet, efficient in work and even if there is any music heard at all, then it would be classical style. I think the upbeat music was a too large contrast with the situation, and therefore lost its meaning.

An offstage sound of thunder, which also referred to the sound of lightning, was used quite often: when the monster was created and when Frankenstein tried to bring Elisabeth back to life. It created a horrifying and frightening atmosphere to the audience. The sound joined with the lightning created the perfect effect of storm I personally think that it’s a very good technique, because during storms the major disasters occur. And this creation was going to be one of the biggest catastrophes of humankind: a man has stepped against the God and defeated Him. The stormy sounds already suggest that the result of it will terrible and extremely unsuccessful.

  In the beginning of the play, the actor of the monster doesn’t use his voice to talk, he only murmurs and grunts. This suggests that he has a baby-like nature as a newborn it has been shown through the fact that he doesn’t know any words. He is innocent in his characteristics and never means to harm anybody. Whereas his curved and yellow eyes and terrifying black lips disgust his master, this results in abandoning the monster.

Frankenstein’s creation is hiding himself from society and observes human life. He tries to copy the actions of the habitants. This indicates that the monster had good intentions from the beginning of the play. The actor is using a little bit robotic and stiff movements to show that he was created from different body parts. This also symbolizes the fact that he really is not a human, although he is created entirely by a human hand. This creates fear in the audience, they are frightened by the fact that such creature can be alive. He was created from dead body parts, which is terrifying because now those pieces are formed as one human being. It's very unnatural and unusual for normal human being to see this, and therefore it is creating terrifying atmosphere.

The pace of the actor’s voice is slow which suggests that he is in the phase of learning how to speak. He studies slowly so that he could learn all the words correctly and accurately. This creates sympathy in the audience towards the character, because he is presented as extremely blameless and immature ( in the sense that he doesn’t know how to act upon events)

The scene with laundry woman’s death is an excellent example of the infantile behaviour of the monster and the actor’s good performance. The laundry lady screams in the sight of the monster. He looks confused hearing the high notes, which is shown by facial expression and very small gestures. The monster was moving stiffly toward the laundry lady and was wondering how to stop her cry. Finally he strangled the woman in order to just stop her screaming. It was an innocent mistake because the monster wasn’t aware of his power and he didn’t know that this will kill the lady. He showed this through running away in confusion. Before running away he was looking help in desperation and his eyes were widened, which created sympathy towards the character.

The actor show levels of power in the “bedroom scene”. The monster was blaming Frankenstein for not taken responsibility of him. All the way through the act, the monster is in higher position and the creator of him is lying on the bed. This situation was very ironic because Frankenstein was the scientist, who created him, extremely smart and part of the wide community. Whereas the monster was dumb, child-like and very lonely. However, at that situation the monster was in control and wanted revenge on Frankenstein. The scene was effective for its use of levels, but on the other hand the monster was using a low, normal voice. This included expressions in his voice and quite large vocabulary - this made the monster look too intelligent. I think that the actor should’ve still used murmuring and grunting in his speech. This would’ve created sympathy towards the monster as his child-like features would have been maintained.

In the same “bedroom scene” the monster was wearing a torn bodysuit, which suggested that he was without home. It shows that the monster is inhuman, because his clothes are too big for him, therefore it has several holes in it. The holes in the shirt make him look muscular and very big in size. This helped to create the effect of the monster as the actor was a normal human being. The character seemed larger in size that he really was. This also created fear in the audience and an expression that he has lots of power and he is extremely strong. The monster looked wild and mad, due to the torn suit, which again created terror in the audience..

In the beginning of the play Elizabeth was wearing peasant like clothes: brown skirt, grey shirt. This suggested that her life was very simple and she had no worries. The character was also jumping happily up and down while playing with the snake. This is another example of her simple life, which was without any worries and full of happiness: she was playing with animals as if they’d be her only friends. This also suggests that she spent lots of time in the laborotory with his father. On the other hand it shows her considerate and gentle side.

Her movements were free and dance-like all through the play (except in the end, where she was brought back to life).  She was also well aware of the space on the stage and therefore used all of it that was provided. Elizabeth’s gestures were smooth, which made her look feminine and described her character as gentle and caring. She used slow motion, when fighting with Egor (who wanted to chop her head for the monster). This shows the good control over her body and described her excellent acting skills.

Elizabeth used a wide range of her voice, which indicated her developed vocal skills. She had a Northern-English accent in the play, which became thicker when flirting with Frankenstein. This shows the various ways that she can put her character across in different situations. She also makes animalistic sound in the “flirting scene”, which indicated Elizabeth’s and Frankenstein’s physical attraction towards each other. This suggested that their feelings were wild and that both of them really sense the connection. Their attraction becomes very obvious through the audience through the various techniques.

Elizabeth wore pyjama clothes in her dream. This helped the audience understand that she was actually sleeping, not awake. In this scene she showed her knowledge of the stage – moved widely up and down as well on both sides of the stage in order to show desperation and fear of what might happen. She was also screaming, which indicates that she wanted to escape and she knew that something horrible is going to take place. This also gives hints to the audience and makes them more concentrated on the play.

Towards the end Elizabeth was wearing red Victorian dress. The colour red suggests that there is danger that something terrible was going to happen. The Victorian dress was contrasting the situation which was all about modern cloning. It referred back to the old myth that has been existing for centuries.    

After Frankenstein brings her back to life from her sudden death, Elisabeth is a transformed character. She acts like the monster did in the beginning: she murmurs, grunts and has robotic movements. She changes quickly from Frankenstein wife’s character into the newborn Elizabeth. She is very convincing in her role change and the audience is able to understand the situation, because of her outstanding acting skills.

I find the play overall excellent. I think that one of strongest points was the Elizabeth’s character. I found the actor really good and her role was very well played. She used wide range in her voice, also she was perfectly aware all of the stage space and she put across the explorative strategies with high-quality acting. I also think that some of the interpretations were excellent as well. Such as adding the monkey to the play, especially calling him Frankenstein was very effective. Frankenstein, Elizabeth and her father killed the monkey and tried to bring him back to life. They failed to do it, which is like a warning to them, that none of those characters should play with life and death. This game wouldn’t have a positive ending, but even though the caution was given, Frankenstein continued. This expresses well the human folly and not learning from our own mistakes. Humans are eager to go for what they believe, not for what is actually right.

I found some of the weaknesses to lay also in the director’s interpretations. The “flirting scene” of Elizabeth and Frankenstein was, I think, too comedy-like. Though it was a very amusing scene, I think that it was over the top, because cloning is such an important and serious issue. The physical theatre helped the audience to understand the situation quicker and clearer, but I think that if the scene would have been less obvious, then the audience would have been wondering more. The relationship would have been more secretive, therefore the audience would have more been concentrated, rather that laughing loudly.

I think that the lightning was very well done. The use of different colours was very effective and symbolizing various things. The flashing-lights created horrifying and a very scary atmosphere, which created tension in the audience.  But I find that there could be done some improvements on sound. I think that more sounds of nature should have been used, such as innocent bird sound when the monster is killing the laundry lady to symbolize that his intentions were always good and that he never actually meant to kill the lady.

During the “bedroom scene”, where the monster is threatening Frankenstein, his vocabulary should have been rather poor and his voice not fluent. Grunting and murmuring would have added more sympathy toward the monster, because then he would have been presented as child-like and innocent character. Whilst in the present play he seemed very civilized and used to the world and environment.

Discussing a play based on Mary Shelleys book Frankenstein.

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  2. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Essay & Research Paper Samples ...

    đź“ť Frankenstein: Essay Samples List. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is famous all over the world.School and college students are often asked to write about the novel. On this page, you can find a collection of free sample essays and research papers that focus on Frankenstein.Literary analysis, compare & contrast essays, papers devoted to Frankenstein's characters & themes, and much more.

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  5. Frankenstein: style

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  6. Frankenstein Study Guide

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