Frankenstein in London
One place I find important to talk about in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is London. London doesn’t serve as one of the main locations in the novel but it still has a significant impact. Shelley portrays London as a busy and vibrant city that occupies many different experiences within the novel. London was represented in the novel in many ways but one of the most important was its recognition for being the hub of science and intelligence. While Victor did not study in London it housed some of his biggest scientific mentors Professor Waldman and Dr. Krempe.
Contrast
One thing that sticks out about London in the novel is the contrast between it being both a smart bustling city and also a slummy and gross city. In chapter II of Volume III, Victor Says “ we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city” when describing his and his best friend Henry Clerval’s time in the city. But on the contrary in chapter 2 of the novel the narrator Robert Walton Describes the city of London as “ dirty and disagreeable”. London serves as a bigger theme in the novel which is economic and social inequality. Some of the nicest things are said about certain parts of the city while the dirty parts, it gets a poor review.
Dark London Skies
Above all, in the novel, London was represented as a place of fear for Victor. After Victor saw what the monster he created was capable Victor fled to London. In London, Victor feared of what the monster might to do him and more of his loved ones. Also in London was Victor’s best friend Henry Clerval. Henry who was having the time of his life in London was met with his friend Victor who brought nothing but negativity upon him. The monster made its way to London and murdered Victor’s friend Henry Clerval as well as his bride Elizabeth Lavenza.
Not So Good Afterall
In the Novel Frankenstein, we see London go from a busy city known for its beautiful architecture to a city filled with nothing but death and the misery of Victor Frankenstein. The stark contrasts of this place speak to a larger theme of such high, highs and low, lows in Frankenstein.
Looking at London Now
I find it incredibly interesting that out of all the places in the novel Frankenstein that are written about by Mary Shelley, London was and still is to this day one of the biggest and most popular cities in the world. In 1818 when the novel was written London was talked about as a hub of culture, science, and innovation. The same remains true as London in 2023 is the most ethnically diverse city in all of England. I think the use of London in Frankenstein given all of the different themes in the novel was an excellent choice. I think the most important theme of London in the novel was the rejection of the monster in the modern city. London is the center of modernity and the monster is rejected from it which speaks to the exclusion and isolation themes of the novel.