Frankenstein
In Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein, one must use their imagination
in order to believe the story line. Throughout the novel there are many
obvious inconsistencies along with impossibilities. This can be called a
lack of verisimilitude, which means that the plot of the story isn’t quite
believable.
An example of the lack of verisimilitude in the novel is how the creature
came to life and was instantly capable of living unaided. Things like
walking are acquired, but instantly as soon as the monster came to life he
walked away. Another example is how the monster found the
whereabouts of his creator from a piece of paper in a pocket. From this
piece of paper he was able to find him. The monster also starts talking
fluently and learns to read in a short period of time just from watching the
De Lacey’s through a hole in their cabin.
The monster understands things
that even an educated man wouldn’t, and thinks of things also. Like how
he framed Justine for the murder of William by placing the locket in her
pocket while she slept. Than there are also many coincidences that are
just too much to believe. The fact that Victor himself is accused for the
murder of Henry Clerval for one. Another is how the monster manages to
be in the right place at the right time all the time.
In conclusion, the lack of verisimilitude in the novel doesn’t make
Mary Shelly any less of a brilliant writer for her time period. Since the
writing of her novel there have been many other books and movies using
her unique plot, which was one of the first science fiction novels of that
time. We also must realize that the movies we watch today have even
less verisimilitude than Shelly’s novel and we still go along with it.
