I didn’t think much about the childbirth and maternity
aspect of the book until I watched the 1994 version of Frankenstein. The book
isn’t very descriptive when it comes to the creation scene, so the movies all
take their own approach to it. The 1994 version specifically took me by
surprise and really made me think of the creation scene in an entirely
different way. I had never seen the 1994 version of the movie before reading
the book, and had no preconception going into the book. So, when I read the
creation scene for the first time maternity was the last thing on my mind.
Victor Frankenstein isn’t exactly a feminine name, and his studies aren’t
exactly feminine, and though he was creating life (as a woman does), I still
could not view his actions as feminine at all. In my mind he was “playing God”,
and he was displaying a very masculine action. Class discussion made me think
about what exactly it means to “play God”. This lead me to wonder, after seeing
the 1994 version, if playing God means that Frankenstein has to be portraying a
manly action. I’ve determined that the book portrays it as a masculine creation
and does not relate well to the childbirth and maternity aspect unless you have seen the movie. At first
I was disgusted with the creation scene. Knowing what the fluid was made me
want to vomit. Though, it is decidedly artistic with its interpretation of the
creation scene. Watching Victor and the monster rolling around in the fluid is
like when the mother has her child (if it is not cleanly like it would be in a
hospital). The fact that Victor has created this being and how he did it in the
movie makes it out like Victor is the mother and the creation process shows his
maternity. I think another important aspect of the creation is Victor’s
rebirth. When they are rolling around in the fluid they are both covered and
trying to stand up together (Victor trying to help the monster). It is very
poetic that Victor should also be covered, and come out of this experience a
new person. Granted, he is a fearful, wretched person after what he has done,
he is still a new person than the one who left Geneva for school. You could say
that the creation of the monster was the incubation of a new Victor, which I
find to be fascinating.
While I certainly understand your point about not realizing the "feminine" side of Frankenstein's actions until the 1994 film, I think there were certainly clues that pointed to the maternal nature of the creation of the monster, even in the novel itself. For example, you could say that Victor's fleeing of the lab and subsequent anxiety and depression was similar to postpartum depression that some mothers experience after childbirth. Frankenstein clearly didn't think through his creation of the monster, he just did it. I think there are surely women who have given birth, only to think "Oh no, what have I done?"
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think even in the novel, Victor has some maternal instincts. He certainly hates the monster, but he also begins to feel compassion and sorrow for it. Maybe this is simply natural human regret, or maybe it's a sign that Victor really does feel like the monster's mother/father.
So yes, the novel itself certainly depicts the creation scene as more of "playing God" and less of "giving birth", but maybe those two things are the same anyway.