Frankstein

Frankenstein is an example of a story that has sparked an entire subgenre of horror. Frankenstein remakes (Frankenstein, 1931), spinoffs (Bride of Frankenstein, 1935), parodies (Young Frankenstein, 1974) and many stories with the same concept. It's referenced and redefined in pop culture so often that the original novel is forgotten about by many people. There are many traits everyone seems to associate with Frankenstein that are not referenced in the book at all. A green monster with spikes sticking from his ears is what most people think when they hear Frankenstein, but the original story never mentioned those things. He's also perceived to be a stupid killing machine, but the original monster grew to be quite intelligent and killed strategically to get revenge on its creator. It's also a common misconception that Frankenstein is the name of the monster, when it's actually the name of the scientist that created it.

Before Frankenstein made itself a staple in Hollywood, it was an iconic work of Gothic horror. While it was not the first, it is definitely one of the most well known and impactful. It displays many of the signature traits of a gothic horror novel. For instance, there is an air of gloom and mystery in every aspect of the novel, from the setting, to the characters, to the subject matter. The story is set mostly in Switzerland and Germany, mountainous areas where not very many people have been. Then towards the end when Frankenstein and the creature try to hunt each other down in the Arctic, it is a very mysterious location. They travel along vast areas covered in ice, something difficult for most readers to imagine. It's also gloomy to imagine our main characters in a desolate, frozen wasteland. Frankenstein himself is hard to identify with. He is a genius scientist but also a madman, and his rejection of the creature makes him even less sympathetic. The creature is mysterious as well, given that after he gets rejected by Frankenstein we only get to learn about him through his letters and only see evidence of him being places. Lastly, the mere idea of creating new life from parts of dead people screams the idea of Gothic horror. The subject matter itself is horrific and disturbing, and the fact that the method of creating new life is kept secret from the reader makes it all the more mysterious.