Frankenstein’s inferno

In Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein makes many references to other books and stories. In the novel he makes a reference to Dante Alighieri’s first poem in his Divine Comedy, the Inferno that does not seem plausible. Dr. Frankenstein says that his creation, or monster as some would call it, is something that, “even Dante could not have conceived.” I do not believe that Dante could have never have thought of something as hideous as Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. Dante’s Inferno, is about a journey into the deepest depths of hell, or the nine levels of hell, and witnessing the harsh reality of brutal hell. This epic poem contains many more creatures and being that are far more fearsome than anything that Dr. Frankenstein could have ever thought up of. In the third level of hell, Dante sees Cerberus, a three-headed demon dog who serves as a guard to the Gulltons. This menacing beast is far more daunting than a human like figure that has been made from the body parts of different peoples. In the seventh level, Dante confronts a Minotaur who guards this level of the violent. A Minotaur is humanoid who has the head of a bull and a body of a man and is much scarier and more ugly than Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. Also in this level there are vicious creatures called Harpies. These creatures who are half women and half bird, are similar to the Minotaur, for they would be much more frightening to see than any creation of man, such as Dr. Frankenstein’s. Finally, Lucifer the fallen angel, resides in the ninth level of hell. He has three different faces and each face is chewing three different people, Brutus, Cassius, and Judas. Anyone who saw this sight would not be scared of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, and might even consider it as a beautiful creature. Dr. Frankenstein should have used a better reference then Dante’s Inferno when trying to portray how terrifying his creature was. There are far more creatures in hell that are more foul and disturbing than Frankenstein’s monster.

Advertisement