Chelsea’s Blog

Chelsea Simpson

The “Birth” of Frankenstein in Film

Over the past several decades society has seen many film productions emerge that are based off Mary Shelley’s legendary 1817 novel, Frankenstein. Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 film titled, “Mary Shellys Frankenstein” is one of the only re-tellings’ of the novel that stays true to the novel’s original storyline. Although in the film, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” Branagh does display the novel accurately, differences between the two are evident. Throughout the movie, scenes of creation and or birth are emphasized in order to obtain the reader’s attention. In the scenes, Branagh makes changes from the novel, which could be because he wants to show his interpretation of how he read Frankenstein; therefore, making his own statement. In these particular scenes, Branagh suggests that reproduction comes in the form of natural labor, which is a new interpretation of the novel, Frankenstein.

One of the fist scenes from “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” that may catch the viewer’s eye is that of the birthing scene when Caroline, Victor’s mother, is giving birth to his younger brother, William. Here is one scene that is not presented in the novel, but does in fact set the audience up for the interest of creation as in the form of reproduction. In this bloody and somewhat frightening scene, Caroline looks to be bleeding to death, as she is trying to give birth to William. The few people in the room seem to be frantic as Caroline screams in pain and horror. Although the baby survives, unfortunately Caroline fails to survive the labor. When analyzing this scene, one may feel that Branagh is not only trying to make a statement that creation comes in the form of reproduction, but also creation/life can cause death. This pertains to both the film as well as the novel, “Frankenstein” because the monster, which Victor creates takes many lives, which would not have happened unless he was created. When looking back on this novel, Caroline does pass away though from catching the scarlet fever from Elizabeth. Thus, Branagh had to feel this was a very important scene that should be added into the film, and I believe is an effective way to set the audience up for the scenes to follow.

The scene in the film where Caroline gives birth to William, sets the audience up for the “birthing” or creation of the monster. In this section of the film, Branagh again emphasizes a different portrayal of creation than in the novel. This scene of the movie differs greatly than the few lines Mary Shelley gives the reader in the novel Frankenstein. In chapter five of the novel, where the creation of the monster actually occurs, one may look at Victor as playing God by creating life though never look at Victor as a parent or father like figure towards the monster. However in the film, not only does Branagh suggest the process of natural reproduction but also the viewers may also feel that at first, Victor is very father like towards the monster. The film highlights on these new ideas, which are not in the novel, by using background music as a tool as well as a showing the audience the “birth” of the monster.

The creation scene in the film starts off with very loud suspenseful music while Victor anxiously runs around the laboratory. The background music proves to be a very effective tool that one reading Frankenstein misses out on. The music can in fact be perceived as very purposeful and may help lead the audience to think of the process of birthing. When thinking of labor especially in the time period when the novel was written, giving birth was considered quite dangerous. The loud music before the monster was born could be implying the commotion of birth. When the monster finally comes to life as he tapped on the enclose tub he was held in, the music began to get louder and louder, almost like the cries right before a baby is born. As Victor pulled the monster out of the tub, which can be perceived as a womb, music completely shut off and stayed very quiet as the monster grasped for air. One could compare the silence to when a child is finally born, there is normally silence until the newly born baby begins to cry. Not only does the tone of the music in the film indicate the monster creation, but also the visuals in the scene help portray the process of natural reproduction.

The creation scene in the film contrasts with what one reading Frankenstein may imagine to occur. In the novel Frankenstein, Victor quotes, “ I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.” This is one of only a few lines Shelley uses to describe the creation of the monster. Based on the novel, one may feel that whether the monster comes to life is based on the how Victor put him together in the laboratory. However, in the creation scene of the film, Branagh uses vivid imagery to again emphasize his theme of natural reproduction. Branagh makes references to embryonic fluid, which is injected into the palms and feet of the monster before the monster comes to life. This is a key image that leads the audience to feel as though the monster is “being born.” Another visual of this scene that leads the audience to think of birth is when Victor first pulls the monster out of the tub structure full of water. Victor patiently helps the monster as they both slide around the slippery floor and as the monster desperately tries to stand up. Unlike in the novel, in the film, one may feel a connection between father, Victor and son, the monster. This bond exhibit’s a sense of peacefulness when the monster is first born as Victor is so happy the monster comes to life. Although the reader in Frankenstein most likely does not feel a sense of peacefulness or bond between father and son, both factors that are not in the novel help develop the Branagh’s point of reproduction.

Both the novel Frankenstein and the film, “Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein” both have the common theme of creation. However, in the film, creation is portrayed as a process of birth. Therefore, one may question why Branagh’s thought it was so important to suggest this process of birth in the film, which does follow so closely to Mary Shelley’s novel. Branagh could potentially have highlighted natural reproduction because he wants to state a strong point of anti-feminism in the film. Looking back on the film, because of the suggested process of creation in the form of birth, one could relate this to a woman’s “job.” For the creation of the monster, one may wonder if he is making a statement that women are incapable of creating life that is so perfect. Feminism prevails in both the film as well as the novel as significant theme. Branagh may have wanted to show that reproduction, which is a woman’s job will never be perfect; which could be his own vision of Frankenstein.