Essay On The Use Of Imagery In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein '

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is about a man who creates a monster and, after failing to care for it, the monster wreaks havoc on his family and home. A key point in the story is that because the monster is ugly beyond imagination,

Throughout the book, Shelley uses imagery to paint a horrifying picture of the monster by using phrases such as “pale and distorted”, and “.............”. She also describes the horrible consequences of the monsters actions by using phrases like “..............” These expressions help the reader to imagine the hideous monster and be in that environment. In one of the scenes, Shelley describes the monster as “.......”

One of the most important literary devices that Shelley uses to create horror is frame narrative. By having 3 story within story narratives leaves the reader slightly unsure of how much the narrator may be telling the truth.When Frankenstein is telling the story, he gives off a feeling of despair, making the reader pity him. However, once the monster starts talking, you begin to sympathize with the monster, not Frankenstein. This creates a kind of mistrust for the reader, not knowing who the “bad guy” really is. By using the frame narrative, Shelley gives the reader different bits of information, not enough that it may be boring, but to keep the reader on edge.
When using quotes such as “Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by such slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity or ruin.”, Shelley sets a feeling of apprehension and dread. Another example of foreshadowing was when Frankenstein said “the first misfortune of my life occurred an omen as if it were my future misery.” Later in the book, after he creates the monster, his life is nothing but misery. By using this literary device, Shelley sets the reader on edge, knowing something is coming up, but not completely sure