Monstrous Affection by Nicole Santos

Dumb, ugly, and severely misunderstood. This is how I would describe Frankenstein’s monster in the film “The Bride of Frankenstein” by James Whale. Although popular culture and children’s literature have given me an idea of who and what Frankenstein and his monster are, I was still quite amazed when I watched the film in my STS class. I had no idea that the monster’s character was so complex and that there was more to him than just his ugly appearance.

At present, there are many issues surrounding certain fields of science and morality. Some examples of these are stem cell research, cloning, and artificial pregnancy. Although there are hordes of people who protest studies such as these, scientists continue to pursue research in these fields, driven by their desire for knowledge and their thirst for novelty.

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and James Whale’s “The Bride of Frankenstein” paint an excellent image of such issues and situations. Dr. Victor Frankenstein built his monster for the love of science, but mobs of people grew fearful of his creation. Their fear and anger towards him did not deter him from pursuing his passion, and in the end, he created a monster that caused death and destruction.

I think the book and the film serve as a warning to the world of science and its constituents against the pursuit towards studies with objectionable morality. They show how morality should still be considered in the study of science and that sometimes man is not ready for certain discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. Frankenstein is a reminder that not science and technology must be used with caution and with sound moral judgment.

James Whale’s “The Bride of Frankenstein” showed a more human side of the monster; a side that craved companionship and affection. The monster had the need for an emotional connection. The monster had a heart. In contrast, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” was a more cerebral creature. It could carry on decent conversations and was able to articulate its thoughts with rudimentary language.

While “The Bride of Frankenstein” was based off of “Frankenstein,” I think it showed an emotional side to the monster because it wanted to highlight its need for a female counterpart. While Mary Shelley wanted her readers to fear her monster, James Whale’s goal was for his audience to empathize with the creature.

After seeing two interpretations of Frankenstein’s monster and analyzing their impact on the relationship of science and morality, I have a better appreciation of this classic horror story. The monster is no longer just a prospective Halloween costume or character in my Saturday afternoon cartoons. “Frankenstein” and “The Bride of Frankenstein” are allegories for today’s moral issues and science, which warn us against venturing into morally questionable fields. Moreover, the monster is not merely a symbol of fear and madness, but a lover and a man greater than the sum of his hodgepodge of parts. Beyond the pages of the book and the movie screen, Frankenstein is a lesson in life.

Nicole Catrina P Santos

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