Decoding the past - In search of the real Frankenstein 1-5

A History Channel documentary produced in 2006 about the real scientists and experiments of the time that may have inspired Mary Shelley in creating Dr Frankenstein. The four possible candidates are Luigi Galvani, Giovanni Aldini, Andrew Ure and Konrad Dippel who lived in the Frankenstein Castle in Germany.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Frankenstein
• Mary
• Shelley
• 19th
• century
• literature
• science
• documentary
• galvanism
• experiments
• electricity
• Luigi
• Galvani
• Giovanni
• Aldini
• Andrew
• Ure
• Konrad
• Dippel
• alchemists
• history
• channel

[drumtap2792]

It's funny how people think Frankenstein is the name of the monster, but it's actually the name of the SCIENTIST who makes the monster. The monster is referred to in the book as either "the Creature" or "the monster", it doesn't have an actual name. Never is it said that Frankenstein used electricity to make the monster either, it only says "the spark of life" which doesn't necessarily mean electricity. Also the monster wasn't born evil, he became evil because mankind spurned him.

[ksotikoula]

@drumtap2792

You are all too correct in your comment :)

Especially the fact that Frankenstein's name is identified with his creature seems to imply that the scientist was the monster after all.

[maria16410]

poli omorfo mprabo sou

[ksotikoula]

Euxaristo!

[LocoRico89]

A triumph of science over God

[CajunKhan]

There's a huge number of differences between the book and the movies. For example, in the book there's nothing to suggest he stitched together body-parts. The monster is apparantly more of a alchemical homonculas. Also, the Doctor controlled the creatures proportions and intended them to be beautiful. It was mostly the translusant skin and eye-color that made it hideous. Picture an 8-foot-tall supermodel with semi-transparant skin and jaundiced eyes. THAT'S the monster.

[1993MovieMan]

@CrazySingingNote NOT Chemistry ! Alchemy which was The Precursor to Chemistry !

[1993MovieMan]

@ksotikoula Actually in Shelley`s Novel , Victor was A Misguided , Arrogant Young Man and his Foolishness is somewhat forgivable when you take into account he WASN`T EVEN A REAL Scientist BUT A Medical School Dropout ! His Creation was A Scared Chimera/Homunculus/Golem Mix who was rejected by NEARLY EVERYONE INCLUDING HIS " FATHER " ! The REAL Monster of Shelley`s Work IS NEITHER Victor NOR his Creation BUT The Repressive Society that drove them to sin !

[Gilari]

The novel is less horror than it is gothic. It's more about what it means to be a person, and about what the limits of human ingenuity should be. Victor was playing God, and the implications of his actions ruin his life. It's more relevant than ever to our day, because we are creating (artificial) life. Just like the Creature, should a robot be considered a person?

[scottieman2]

@drumtap2792 Usually when people think of Frankenstein they think of the monster, so don't blame them.

[kifferd]

@drumtap2792 Not to forget the scientists its based on experiemented with electricity, And Luigi Garvani was the person who learned bioelectricity when he gave electricity to dead frog legs and they moved as if alive. So the spark of life as you call it, is truly electricity. But how it was applied is another story.

[kifferd]

@drumtap2792 Dracula is based on Vlad the Impaler. Perhaps you should go deeper than a simple fiction book ;)

[kifferd]

@drumtap2792 Im pretty sure every person in todays world knows that Frankenstein is the Dr. Not the monster. However, frankenstein has been named AFTER the Dr, by modern writings. Wich dont make it wrong. Since its all fiction. Please remember that. ;)

[PhreakStep]

I think frankenstein monster is possible just not in this way more like a cyborg.

Even if you make a robot but instead of a plastic as a cover you would use flesh and skin would be conisdered as cyborg.