The title character from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, often mistakenly used to refer to the monster he created. In popular usage, it refers to something created that becomes uncontrollable or destructive.
Created by Mary Shelley, combining German 'Franken' (referring to the Franconia region) and 'stein' (stone), literally meaning 'stone of the Franks.' Shelley may have been influenced by Castle Frankenstein in Germany. The name has since become synonymous with dangerous scientific experimentation.
One of literature's greatest ironies is that most people call the monster 'Frankenstein,' when that's actually the name of his creator - Victor Frankenstein. This mix-up reveals something profound about the story: the creator and creation become so intertwined that they share an identity, reflecting Shelley's theme about the responsibility we bear for what we bring into the world.
Mary Shelley authored this work (1818), often attributed to 'Frankenstein' anonymously or to her husband Percy; the creator's female authorship was historically erased.
Credit Mary Shelley as author. Note that 'Frankenstein' is the creator, not the creature.
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein at 18, pioneering science fiction while her contributions were routinely attributed to male peers or anonymity.
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