Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, first published in 1818, is often considered a foundational work in the genres of gothic horror and science fiction. But when discussing its classification, one question frequently arises: Is Frankenstein fantasy fiction? To answer this, it is essential to explore both the novel’s content and the literary conventions it interacts with. Shelley’s narrative intertwines themes of human ambition, the consequences of scientific experimentation, and the supernatural. While these elements make the book seem akin to fantasy fiction, the novel’s tone, context, and underlying message suggest a more complex classification.
The Key Elements of Fantasy Fiction
Fantasy fiction is often characterized by its inclusion of magical elements, mythical creatures, and a world that operates outside the constraints of reality as we know it. This genre frequently features protagonists who embark on epic quests, facing challenges that test their morality, courage, and resourcefulness. The laws of nature in these stories can often be suspended or altered, creating a fantastical setting where imagination reigns supreme.
One of the most defining aspects of fantasy fiction is the presence of the supernatural. This can manifest in various forms—magic, gods, elves, dragons, or even talking animals—elements that break from the physical world and human experience. These fantastical elements often work to highlight human emotions and conflicts in a way that realistic fiction cannot.
Frankenstein’s Genre: Gothic Horror Meets Science Fiction
At first glance, Frankenstein might appear to fit neatly within the realm of fantasy fiction. The novel includes a reanimated corpse—a creature brought to life by an unconventional scientific process, which certainly carries an element of the supernatural. However, the focus on scientific experimentation and the ethical dilemmas surrounding it align the novel more closely with science fiction and gothic horror.
Gothic horror, as a genre, often explores the dark side of human nature, the unknown, and the supernatural. It deals with themes of decay, madness, and the sublime, and frequently features settings such as abandoned castles, desolate landscapes, and grotesque figures. While the supernatural in gothic horror is often rooted in the metaphysical, it is generally intended to unsettle rather than enchant.
In contrast to fantasy fiction’s celebration of magical possibilities, gothic horror (and specifically Frankenstein) is preoccupied with the consequences of humanity’s attempts to transcend natural laws. Victor Frankenstein’s creation of the monster is not based on magic, but on the science of anatomy and reanimation—scientific principles that, although speculative, reflect the era’s growing interest in scientific experimentation and knowledge.
The Role of Science in Frankenstein
Unlike the worlds of typical fantasy fiction, where magic is a given, Frankenstein provides a realistic context for the creation of its monstrous character. The monster is not the result of a mystical spell or an ancient curse; instead, it is the product of scientific experimentation gone awry. Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist obsessed with the idea of defeating death, uses his knowledge of chemistry, anatomy, and electricity to give life to his creation.
The novel reflects early 19th-century anxieties about unchecked scientific progress, a theme that foreshadows many concerns that would later become central to science fiction. Shelley’s story poses significant moral and ethical questions about scientific experimentation, particularly when those experiments involve life and death. The monster, though a grotesque figure, is not fantastical in the sense that it is magical—its existence is explained through the scientific means available to Frankenstein. The tension between the monster’s creation and its consequences—alienation, fear, and destruction—raises questions about the morality of tampering with the natural order of life.
The Supernatural in Frankenstein: A Fine Line
While Frankenstein is not strictly fantasy fiction, there is an undeniable supernatural aspect to the story. The reanimation of the dead falls into a realm of the unexplainable, suggesting a supernatural event, but Shelley roots this event in the context of scientific experimentation. The creation of life through electrical impulses can be seen as both an extraordinary scientific achievement and a mystical, godlike act.
The monster itself is a hybrid of the natural and the supernatural. Though it is a physical being created through scientific means, it possesses an eerie, otherworldly quality. It is not just a monster in the physical sense but represents the existential horror of playing God and the unnatural consequences of doing so. As such, it occupies a liminal space between the genres of science fiction and fantasy. While it doesn’t adhere to the magical laws of fantasy, it engages with supernatural elements in ways that evoke feelings of fear and wonder, characteristic of the genre.
Frankenstein’s Themes: Human Nature, Morality, and the Other
What sets Frankenstein apart from traditional fantasy fiction is its emphasis on the human condition and its exploration of the darker aspects of human ambition. The monster, often perceived as an “other,” represents humanity’s fear of what it cannot understand or control. Throughout the novel, the monster is portrayed as both a victim and a villain, a complex character whose existence challenges traditional notions of good and evil.
In many fantasy novels, the “other” is typically an external force—an antagonist who opposes the hero. In Frankenstein, however, the “other” is created by the protagonist himself, making it a reflection of his own inner turmoil and moral failings. Victor Frankenstein’s refusal to take responsibility for his creation, combined with the monster’s gradual descent into violence, highlights the destructive consequences of abandoning morality in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and personal glory.
The relationship between creator and creation in Frankenstein echoes many of the same themes found in fantasy fiction: isolation, identity, and the quest for belonging. However, Shelley’s exploration of these themes is far more grounded in the reality of human behavior and the consequences of crossing ethical boundaries, making it more aligned with the intellectual and philosophical questions found in science fiction than in traditional fantasy narratives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Frankenstein contains elements that might seem to fit within the realm of fantasy fiction—such as the supernatural creation of life—the novel is ultimately more a product of gothic horror and early science fiction. Shelley’s exploration of the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition, her portrayal of the monster as a product of human hubris, and the novel’s complex treatment of morality and responsibility all suggest that it transcends the boundaries of fantasy.
Frankenstein is not a work of fantasy in the traditional sense. Its engagement with science, morality, and the supernatural places it in the genres of gothic horror and science fiction, with elements of the fantastical. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of playing God and the moral dilemmas posed by scientific experimentation—questions that remain as relevant today as they were in Shelley’s time. Therefore, while Frankenstein might borrow some elements from fantasy fiction, it stands apart as a pioneering work in the fields of science fiction and gothic horror.
