I, Frankenstein's creation, unholy
Creature, manifestation of Man's unbridled ambition,
Perdition's outcast, I stand here before you
To frighten, disgust you, show you
How frail flesh can come alive at
The whim of the slave master, physician, scientist.
Monster, I may be,
Yet how monstrous, more, is the man
Frankenstein.
O ~ o ~
Thanks for reading
The above image is a theatrical poster of Mr O Smith as the Monster in the stage play Frankenstein (John Duncombe, courtesy of Forum Auctions) from around 1826. It is believed to be the first image of the Frankenstein monster in print. Due to be auctioned in the week commencing March 24, 2025.
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, was first published in 1818. Written by a teenage girl, Mary Wollstonecraft (1797-1851, daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1792), who ran off with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, later to marry him. Frankenstein has done more to shape modern notions of science and science fiction, I would suggest, than any other work of modern literature.
If you have any thoughts about the challenges of artificial intelligence, for instance, the chances are that your thoughts include contemplation of the evils such a monster could do to otherwise civilised society. This is the whole purpose and plot of the novel Frankenstein.
Has anything changed over the past 200+ years?
There is a glorious portrait of that undisputed mother of the android conundrum housed in the National Portrait Gallery in London. I often stand here and contemplate her image, with something of wonder.
May the souls of all the poets rest in peace.
About the Creator
Raymond G. Taylor
Author living in Kent, England. Writer of short stories and poems in a wide range of genres, forms and styles. A non-fiction writer for 40+ years. Subjects include art, history, science, business, law, and the human condition.
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Comments (8)
Forever a question of theodicy: who bears the greater blame, the monster or the one who created them thus?
Frankenstein’s legacy endures, exploring humanity's ambition limits.
Wait a sec, you mean Mary and her mom had the same name?
This was nice. Thanks for sharing and great pictures too.
Great poem and now I am going to re-read the novel 'Frankenstein' for it's a story of love and friendship in my eyes and not a horror story.
The poem itself was a perfect fit. And thank you for including a little backstory!
This was great, Raymond. And that poster depicts quite a good-looking man, I fail to see how it could be a monster, except that his arm seems to be bent in an impossible way.
Lovely story when I was younger I loved the Frankenstein films on blackness white telly ✍️📕🏆