Fact, Fiction, and Frankenstein's Monster

[@beck-tn9gl]

When I was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany, I was an MP. Burg Frankenstein, was a fairly short ride from our Kaserne. It was up a picturesque and long winding road. We patrolled there on occasion. Beautiful location. Great memories.

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

That does sound awesome. A friend of mine was born in Germany (his father was stationed there), and he got to go see a lot of the castles and masonry structures over there, those things have got to be amazing to see in person and in the setting as which you described.

[@beck-tn9gl]

@peteywheatstraws4909 I'm sure that you would have enjoyed it as well. I've been fortunate enough to have been back to Europe several times, but not back to Germany yet. Every country has their castles and I've been to a few luckily. I highly recommend it. I hope that you get there.

[@terrallputnam7979]

It's amazing how much this novel written by a young lady is still such a part of pop culture.

[@clinthowe7629]

I think Boris Karloff probably had more to do with that than Mary Shelly.

[@pleasureincontempt3645]

It’s really not. Also, who drew that picture?! Her eyeballs are bigger than her neck-bolts.

[@barriolimbas]

Bram Stoker: hold my 🍺

[@clinthowe7629]

@@barriolimbas Bram Stoker was associated with Dracula, i was referring to who made Frankenstein so popular,

[@semperfi-1918]

Its amazing how 3 amazing books were written all in the same time frame in a story telling gathering. To include dracula.

[@monitor1862]

The 1931 version is my favorite. The creature was the first televised image I remember being frightened of as a child. Since then its held a special place in my heart.

[@CaptApril123]

Watched it recently and it's still good. The combination of directing and Karloff's ability to express emotion without saying a word sold the movie. It's very similar to a modern movie, with frantic editing and some sweeping camera angles that had me wondering 'how the heck did they do that in 1931?'

[@Litauen-yg9ut]

Ya, this version tortured me until I was 9 or 10. Same dream over and over again where he almost got me but I'd wake up just before he grabbed me... Still remember that dream over 40 years later..

[@steffenritter7497]

Indeed! The first time I watched the movie, I was about four years old. When Karloff walked up the stairs and slowly turned around, I still remember the reaction of my father when I covered my eyes with my hands. There's a little-known movie version of Mary Shelley's creation starring Robert de Niro as the monster which I like very much.

[@CAP198462]

That’s fine, I think it was Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” that was my first experience with Frankenstein. Put the candle back!

[@dangeroreilly2028]

@@CAP198462 Put ze candle beck! One of a million funny lines!

[@519djw6]

*I read "Frankenstein" when I was majoring in English at my university. The thing that I remember most was that "the creature" was actually an intellectual who pondered the existential ramifications of his being artificially given life. This was, of course, a far cry from the grunting monster portrayed by Boris Karloff.*

[@joesterling4299]

Same here. I read the book years after watching the 1930s movies as a child. It was such a disconnect, and I began to wonder what other literature had been reduced to pulp fiction by Hollywood.

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

@@joesterling4299 "I began to wonder what other literature had been reduced to pulp fiction by Hollywood." Almost all of it.

[@92bagder]

its ironic the campy 2000s movie Van Helsing has the more faithful rendition of the monster than the popular movies

[@joelsalazar8666]

Watch the series Penny Dreadful. It's got a serious, dour, violent philosophical Frankenstein that maybe matches the book.

[@CaptApril123]

I believe the 'creature' was actually named Adam in the original story. And yes, he taught himself to read and pondered his existence

[@digitalranger4259]

I've always thought Frankenstein was a retelling of the Golem legend. Build a creature, bring it to life, things go awry. It's obvious she at least had inspiration beyond her "dream".

[@ApothecaryGrant]

Galvanism was her inspiration

[@Pocketfarmer1]

Do you know of any evidence that Mary Shelly had ever heard of what was in her time an obscure story from a religion not her own, in a different language ,from several countries and centuries away? 13:06 The history guy plainly says the night before she started writing , she heard a discussion of galvanism.

[@shawngilliland243]

Superb presentation, as always, History Guy. Thank you! One of the MANY things that make the novel a classic is how the doctor's "creation" of life grows ever more probable than it was when Shelly wrote it.

[@Greg41982]

Dude, you are a national treasure.

[@philiphendersonjr1760]

I agree completely! Well said!

[@LassieFarm]

Frankenstein is ?

[@philiphendersonjr1760]

@@LassieFarm no, the History Guy.

[@joshgreen2164]

I concur!

[@ScoundrelSFB]

Frankenstein has always been my favorite of the old horror stories, and Monsters. Such a tragic life of the author, but such a fascinating story itself of how it came to be.

[@spddiesel]

The best part of this fantastic story is that it eventually led to 1974's "Young Frankenstein," which is as heartfelt as it is hilarious; damn near a perfect movie imho.

[@rsr789]

My favorite part of the book is when the monster and Dr. Frankenstein put on top hat and tails and performed 'Puttin' on the Ritz' in front of a live audience... 🤪

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

abby

[@spaceviking4966]

Just wanted to take a second to thank you again for all the incredible videos you have shared over the years.

[@1bert719]

Reading Frankenstein I was reminded of a quote from a movie about creating the atom bomb where a doctor tells Oppenheimer "Stop playing God, because you are not good at it and the position is taken." A frank warning against obsession still relevant all these years later.

[@DonP_is_lostagain]

I've read the novel a few times in my life, and one thing that's always bothered me is, too often it's classified as a horror story, when it is much more akin to science fiction. The only real horror to be derived is that of reanimating a corpse, and the ramifications of bringing back to life that which was dead. It remains to this day, a signal question to scientists, "I know you can, but should you?".

[@dinascharnhorst6590]

Which is why it was required reading for me in a lit class with a focus in medical ethics in college.

[@LassieFarm]

@@dinascharnhorst6590medical ethics LOL. Our healthcare industry is pure evil

[@robertshorthill6836]

Here is another tale of reanimating a "dead thing": the presidency of one Donald J Trump. He would be a monster unlike anything of fiction or science -fiction. He would inflict more chaos and damage to the world than any living person since Hitler and Stalin. And with his minions, followers, MAGA sycophants he could not be stopped. He was created by greed and facsism, hate and grift, narcissism and lack of morallity. All traits of a dispicable excuse for a human born of a woman.

[@ProfessorJayTee]

"I know you can, but should you?" The answer is almost always, "Yes."

[@arsangelica6858]

No, it’s not.

[@jamesmiller4184]

For any interested in getting further into this, don't miss out on two films: 1. GOTHIC (1986) "The film is a fictionalized retelling of the Shelleys' visit to Lord Byron in Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, shot in Gaddesden Place." -- Wikipedia Although unstated, the actual Villa was shown here, above, for about a minute. It still stands and can be visited. 2. Rowing With the Wind (1988) " This historical drama centers on the relationship among Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron at the time she was writing her horror masterpiece, "Frankenstein." Lizzy McInnerny, Hugh Grant, Valentine Pelka, Elizabeth Hurley, Jose Luis Gomez, Virginia Mataix. This English-language Spanish production is a fairly successful examination of the "haunted summer" of 1816 wherein the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, her sister Claire Clairmont, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Dr. John Polidori intertwined to produce Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's classic gothic novel Frankenstein. This same material inspired Ken Russell's overheated horror film GOTHIC (1987). ROWING WITH THE WIND opens with a beautifully photographed sequence--accompanied by Ralph Vaughan Williams' haunting "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis"--in which Mary Shelley (McInnerny) writes on board a decrepit schooner as it drifts through massive ice floes near the North Pole, the very same setting that marks the climax of Frankenstein. Reminiscing about the events that have brought her to this place, McInnerny flashes back to her courtship with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Pelka) and their elopement to Switzerland where they met Lord Byron (Grant) and his friend Dr. Polidori (Gomez). Accompanied by McInnery's sister Claire (Hurley)--who has had an affair with Grant--the quintet spends the summer at Grant's villa. From here the plot is virtually identical to that of GOTHIC, highlighting such biographical nuggets as Percy Shelley's inability to swim, Byron's callous bon mots, Polidori's suicide, and the death of the Wollstonecraft-Shelley children. The move from Switzerland to Italy is detailed, as are the events in the years following, wherein Shelley drowns and Byron dies of disease in Greece during the Greek-Turkish war. While in GOTHIC Russell uses the events to highlight the sexual decadence and debauchery that he imagines took place, director-writer Gonzalo Suarez takes a different, more gothic approach. He shows Mary Shelley to be haunted by the image of the monster she created in Frankenstein, which she sees lurking whenever a tragedy befalls her family and friends. While all the principals are excellent, Grant steals the movie as the eccentric, unconventional Lord Byron. Although Suarez's screenplay suffers from literary pretensions that occasionally result in somewhat stilted dialog, his visualization of the material is breathtaking." -- TVguide.com

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

I never knew about the Dipple guy who lived at the castle. So I learned something new. Thanks!

[@032319581]

My gosh....your last words tore at my heart. 2009 I lost my beloved fiance and 2015, lost my father, who helped me get through Doug's loss. It has been a year, November 8th since I lost my dog who stood beside me through it all.

[@wirelesmike73]

I lost my dog on November 12th this last year. He was 20 years old. It's astounding how much space a dog can fill in one's heart. They're amazing creatures. Most are, by far, better than the vast majority of people. My condolences for all of your losses. I hope you find your way to getting another dog when you're ready. And, I hope you chose to adopt.🐕 There are a lot of them out there who need a person.

[@sullivanspapa1505]

@@wirelesmike73 cats too are companions. “Dogs think they are gods, Cats know they are!’.

[@lancerevell5979]

Young Frankenstein remains my favorite version of the story. 😄 A satirical classic

[@masterskrain2630]

That's FRONKENSTEEN!

[@d.e.b.b5788]

"My grandfather's work was DOO DOO!" "What hump?" "Walk this way." "Would you like a roll in the hay?" and, of course, "Put...... the candle...... back." All of which broke the audience in the theater, up in laughter. Yes, I am old enough to have seen it when it first came out. And have seen it probably more than 50 times since, as it's on my routine Halloween list. Now go watch it again, all of you.

[@donwillhoit6866]

@@d.e.b.b5788 Not to forget "No tongues"

[@samsignorelli]

"MY GRANDFATHER'S WORK WAS DOO-DOO!!"

[@bloodybones63]

Help me handle these bags.

[@MotownWes]

Awesome story and probably my favorite horror story of all time. She will always be a horror writing legend.

[@billcore6295]

There is a small village called Frankenstein near Kaiserslautern GE, I used to ride up to the small castle just above the village cemetery, it was eerie and imposing on top of the hill above the small village.... my kids and would explore the remains of the castle wondering who had lived there in the past

[@craigdeandean4036]

History guy you knocked this one out of the park fantastic well done!

[@aliceosako792]

"Knowledge is knowing [that] Frankenstein is not [the name of] the monster. Wisdom is knowing [Victor] Frankenstein IS the monster." - Jacob Bailey

[@TheEvilmanikin]

And in the end. Both end as monsters.

[@TheEvilmanikin]

Well he spent the rest of his life hunting his own creation. His evil in my mind is the destruction of the second creation. He couldn't let his creation attempt happiness.

[@mchumm3r]

My friend and I got the theory that Victor WAS the monster. He murdered those closest to him, either as an alternate personality or he went in and out of an amesiatic state or he was just an evil guy. How could the supposed monster cross mountains and oceans to be wherever Victor was?

[@TheEvilmanikin]

@@mchumm3r now that's a cool theory but I feel like it's off the mark. If he was just crazy doesn't feel right considering the time and works that inspired. But if someone wrote it exactly the same but the ending would be interesting. A point against yours would be the others on the ship seeing the creature

[@deespaeth8180]

Indeed.

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

Thanks for the good show & for featuring a classic monster.Truth can be stranger than fiction.

[@CaesiusX]

Thank you for this. I have long enjoyed what more there is to learn regarding the creation of this story.

[@v.e.7236]

Always a relevant topic and food-for-thought in every video. THG was my 1st YT subscription (back when his subs were around 40/50K) and is still my favorite way to start my day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

[@deetrvl4life875]

Wow, the ending of this video was so impactful! I sat just staring for a moment or two. What irony that such a horrid story could come on the heels of so much happiness and companionship. Up and down, up and down. Poor Mary.

[@njpaddler]

"Frankenstein: The True Story" is a 1973 British production described by one reviewer as "a star-studded, literate adaptation" , which stars include Michael Sarrazin as the Creature, James Mason as Dr. Polidori, David McCallum, Ralph Richardson & John Gielgud, Agnes Moorehead and introducing a young Jane Seymour. I've got it queued up for viewing. I remember it as being a worthy effort & above average.

[@jmchez]

As a kid, I saw that on TV. There's a scene that left me traumatized, as I had never witnessed anything so violent ever. Even today, I think that it is a bit much even for our more desensitized modern outlook. Spolier below.... . . . . . The creature shows up at a festive ball where the young Jane Seymour is dancing. Jane plays a second creature but one that is much more refined and beautiful. The male creature attacks Jane and grabs her by the head. Jane fights back violently, despereately trying to get away but he pulls her head right off! I still can't believe that they showed that in 1972.

[@coling3957]

I still find "Young Frankenstein" one of the best movies ever made 😃

[@marianneegland5576]

Totally agree! Saw it in a theater when it came out with my Mom and laughed about long after❤

[@odysseusrex5908]

I was unaware that Mary Shelley had such a tragic life. Poor thing. I also had no idea she was only eighteen when she wrote the book. That's incredible.

[@bubbercakes528]

Tragic life? She was wealthy and slept with married men. She herself was a monster.

[@odysseusrex5908]

@@bubbercakes528 No, she was not at all wealthy. Growing up, her father was an unsuccessful publisher and constantly in debt. After she grew up and began making money writing, she helped support him. Although Percy Shelley came from a wealthy family, his father disapproved of their lifestyle and refused to give them any financial support. After Percy's death, he did provide her with an allowance to support their one remaining child, but it was enough to live on, nothing lavish. How in the world was she a monster? She did start an affair with the married Shelly, when she was all of sixteen, but everybody involved believed in free love and open marriages, so it's not like she was some kind of homewrecker.

[@melissacarterpresley5786]

@odysseusrex5908, Bet it would not take many guesses to "nail" down your favorite past time.

[@odysseusrex5908]

@@melissacarterpresley5786 Ummm . . Ohhh Kay?

[@stevoplex]

The only movie I'm aware of that is true to the original story is "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein " starring Kenneth Branaugh as Dr. Frankenstein and Robert Deniro as the monster.

[@garycarpenter2980]

You need to see the one with Boris Karloff..... very good

[@rsr789]

It uses electricity, so not that true to the book, since electricity wasn't used in the book, but rather chemicals were to bring the monster to life.

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

​@@rsr789Ah, interesting.

[@RWSCOTT]

love this! Shelley's a personal hero of mine, and inspiration to write. @ 2:45 - thanks for clearing this up. There's been a urban legend among writers for years re: this writing contest, that it was between Shelley, Stoker & R.L. Stevenson who took opium and wrote their respective horror classics, lol.

[@TwoPennyRaven]

I'm currently re-reading the novel (first read it in college years ago), as a co-worker of mine is directing a stage version of 'Frankenstein' for a local theatre company and I plan on attending. I'd forgotten how tragic and nuanced the story is, especially when you consider how Mary wrote her own sorrows into the narrative and how the book reflects on the themes of loss and abandonment. This was a great look into the history behind this classic novel, written by a woman whose influence on sci-fi literature is immeasurable.

[@jeanneratterman]

Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cummberbatch did a phenomenal play, twice, where they each interchangeably played The Monster and Dr Frankenstein. It is worth watching both versions. 👍👍

[@davidmacesr.2557]

Once again defined piece of history to remember. I do still remember seeing this movie the first time in my early childhood probably in a year they may have been in first grade. The movie have a great effect on me concerning the meaning of life. David

[@richardranke3158]

In 1963,when I was 8,I asked my father about Frankenstein. He gave me a brief summary of the 1931 movie,starting with,"There was a man named Frankenstein-". I was surprised that Frankenstein wasn't the name of the monster.(Chuckle!) Then I read an article about the Frankenstein story.(Weren't all of us surprised that the story was originally written by a girl under 20?) The article also included summaries of the Boris Karloff Frankenstein films of the 1930s. Not too long afterwards I read the book and felt as much pity for the monster as I did the scientist. Eventually I saw all of the Universal Frankenstein movies...including the Abbott & Costello farce.:-) Having read the book and seen the movies I fully understood all the satire in Young Frankenstein(1973).

[@garycarpenter2980]

Watch that movie it's my favorite movie and it's hilarious I've seen it 6 times and I never tire of it

[@georgechapman2774]

A subject you might be interested into is AC-119 fixed wing gunships used in Vietnam War (71st, 17th & 18th Special Operations Squadroms). They were antiquated aircraft used as a stopgap measure that were highly effective for ground support and interdiction. The story includes: one of the few if not the only reserve squadron (71 SOS) to be activated for combat duty in the Vietnam War; the McKay trophy for the most significant aerial achievement of 1970; the last American killed in Vietnam before the ceasefire in Jan 1973 plus successful missions and combat losses. I would like to send you the challenge coins for each squadron.

[@gregmitchell4619]

I would like to here about this also. Seems some of the most crucial people involved never got their recognition. Course some say that was the time. It never occurred to me, not to respect any veteran growing up with the previous generation of heros.

[@johnkeenan1829]

I think it's interesting that in the book there is no mention of electricity being used to raise the creature. Instead Victor studies Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, as well as others, leading to the idea that he actually used some kind of black magic to bring him to life. That also helps to foster later stories implying that the creature is somehow immortal because of this.

[@brianmelendy1194]

One of the greatest novels ever written.

[@eane4762]

This channel is truly a gift of knowledge, fun, and entertainment. Thank you!

[@pamelamays4186]

A little Frankenstein trivia. In the 1931 Frankenstein film Dr. Frankenstein is aided by a character named Johann. In film Bride Of Frankenstein a Dr. Polidori convinces Dr. Frankenstein to created a mate for the creature. The character of Ygor doesn't appear until the film The Son Of Frankenstein. Ygor is played by everyone's favorite Dracula, Bela Lugosi. The 1974 film Young Frankenstein used movie sets from the 1931 Frankenstein film.

[@STho205]

In the novel Victor is not a Doctor....but a medical school dropout that quit to do his own gruesome research obsession.

[@dangeroreilly2028]

I remember Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius, but who was Polidori? And, Billy Barty played a small part in The Bride of Frankenstein (no pun intended).

[@goodun2974]

Galvani's discovery concerning the spasmodic reaction of frog muscles to electricity reportedly occurred when he hung a frog carcass on some type of wire rack made of two different metals. Which reminds me of a cartoon I saw many years ago that showed 2 frogs driving somewhere in a car and one of them says to the other "Jesus, Edith, you're driving like you've been pithed".

[@plane_simple]

🤣 Your description of the cartoon makes me think of Gary Larson...

[@goodun2974]

@@plane_simple , might be, or Gahan Wilson, perhaps (I love his work, along with Larsen's Far Side cartoons) but I can't remember for certain. Another favorite frog cartoon of mine was of a restaurant with a sign saying "Today's Special: Frog's Legs", and frogs in wheelchairs were rolling themselves out of the kitchen.....it's also funny that my wife was watching the food show Chopped! yesterday, and one of the chef's-basket ingredients was frogs legs, which taste good to me, BTW. (My wife is too squeamish for that).

[@madamesalamander16]

The works that frighten us the most are usually those which make us think far past our existential comfort, should we have the courage to look there. That's what allows this novel and its better adaptations to continue to scare the crap out of us 200 years on! Unanswerable questions, unresolvable paradoxes, the gristle of our precious vessels... happy Halloween, everyone!

[@malcolmtudor8039]

Could not agree more.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Great video!!! While in the US Army was stationed in Germany during the 1980s' Had the opportunity to visit Frankenstein's Castle - was awesome!!

[@aprilrichards762]

Back in like 2012, the National theatre put on a more faithful adaption of Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller switching off between the roles of the Creature and Frankenstein.

[@jonathanfarrell2378]

Excellent! Thanks for posting! Mary Shelley was a gifted writer. And in your conclusion, I’m reminded of another writer who afflicted by grief from the loss of her child, wrote a novel that took a particular genre to new levels, that of Anne Rice. Her “Interview with a Vampire” has shed new light on horror stories for the contemporary audience. It seems to me…Horror novels are works of fiction that perhaps are overlooked as great literature. But in the best of them there is a glimmer of the human condition that is like no other. Another example of a current author reaching literary heights like that of Shelly or Bram Stoker might be someone such as Stephen King. Thanks again for your presentation. Happy Halloween!

[@jmchez]

The creature was shown as an intellectual in the first season of the TV series, "Penny Dreadful". However, he was so talkative, menlancholic and philosophical that many viewers expressed a desire for him to be quiet a bit and just go murder someone. Robert Deniro also talked in the movie, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein". But you can guess that he left us all expecting him to come out , look at the camera, and say, " Are you talking to me?".

[@1locust1]

😄

[@mikecrase3047]

Well done. Will there more of these on Dracula...wolfman etc..?

[@martygould5114]

I've read The Modern Prometheus and it's nothing like the legend as we have come to know in film.

[@marie_h1104]

Fascinating; I want to reread the novel now. Thank you, THG!

[@goodun2974]

In Richard Thompson's song " 'Dad's Gonna Kill Me", about a soldier in Baghdad, there's another Frankenstein reference: "I'm dead meat in my HumVee Frankenstein/ I hit the roadblock but I never hit the mine/ The dice rolled and I got lucky this time....." The Humvee Frankenstein is a modified Humvee with extra armor plates and shielding and higher-caliber weaponry.

[@marccultice4852]

Loved this episode, enhanced by the models on the shelf - Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mummy(?), Frankenstein, and Wolfman!

[@raydunakin]

Plus a skull on the top shelf.

[@trogo5858]

The History Guy! you are a Rock Star!! I can't believe I'm just now finding this. You reference and take the historical and categorical and put in the chronological and anthropological - with a little bit of the philosophical - all to make a fantastic anthology that always improves my metacongitive psychology. These are the stories I've always wanted to hear in my history classes - so I'm clicking on Bologna next. Agape Blessings! 😄

[@paulwoida8249]

Mary made a very important point in the book that most people miss. The creation was a kind and gentle being at the start of his existence. He learned to speak, read and write as he secretly helped an impoverished family (possibly French aristocrats fleeing the reign of terror) and the son was teaching his foreign fiance. The family's horrified reaction to his physical appearance made him realize just how different and alone he was. When Frankenstein destroyed the potential mate, the creation became violent and evil. Mary seemed to understand that even the nicest person will change for the worst if all they experience is hatred and ridicule.

[@jessfrankel5212]

Excellent presentation. I remember watching 'Gothic', a 1986 film about the meeting by the principals mentioned. Not a great film, but one with creative imagery.

[@bobschenkel7921]

There is one more use of the name Frankenstein I can think of, that you did not mention. There is a song called "Frankenstein", from The Edgar Winter Group. It was "created" in the 1970's, and got it's name from the fact that it cobbled together several different song elements from different studio sessions to create one coherent song. Worth a listen if you have never heard it, and you like loud, dynamic and adventurous music. It was a hit back in the day.

[@geoben1810]

An insightful, intelligent, and philosophical look at the classic story that reveals so much more than the Hollywood versions. I always wondered, and felt that there was more to the story. Shelley was a brilliant young woman. Leave it to the History Guy to present the story behind the story and bring it to the fore. I admit I've never read the book. I will now. Thanks H.G.

[@aaronherman6396]

In Mary Shelley's: Frankenstein, Robert DeNiro, the Monster, does take the Bible, the mathematics book, and Paradise Lost and learns to read them.

[@affsteak3530]

The Murder Act also sounds like a theological punishment if one believes in bodily resurrection, which would have been more common in the 1700s.

[@laserbeam002]

I wasn't expecting this post to be very interesting but yet again you have proven me wrong. Thank you.

[@atlbrysco6198]

I and my family visited Frankenstein's Castle when I was six years old (over 45 years ago!). My father, who was in the military was stationed in Germany and it was a weekend routine for us to visit the Germanic castles while we were there (for 3 years). I remember being terrified of going as even at that point, I knew who/what Frankenstein was... There wasn't much left back then in 1976... after getting all the way up on the hill, there were only two towers. We learned later that after the bombings of WWII and the destruction of the castle, the people living below had come up and taken the stones and remnants to rebuild their own houses. Still though, between the story, the legend and the eeriness of the place, it was very easy to see how the monster could have burst out, burning the castle in his wake and killing his creator! At that time, there used to be a Halloween tradition of a tour leading everyone up the the hill by torchlight and having a "haunted house" type of experience... don't know if that still exists, but I know it psychologically scarred me forever... 😀

[@johnbee7729]

This is awesome!! Thanks History Guy. Just past Thanksgiving here in Canada and as we prep for All Hallows Eve, Mr. Stein will take a prominent place. Thank you ever so much!

[@JohnCarder]

Wonderful, informative and compelling. Up there with your best, Sir.

[@stevekunz6573]

I got to visit the Frankenstein castle when stationed in Mainz Germany. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@ernestweaver9720]

I had no clue the sad life she endured. May God be with you always miss Shelly.

[@mrs.g.9816]

I think Mary Shelley's book is even more scary than the original 1930's movie with Boris Karloff. A lot to think about. Mary Shelley imagined the horror, loneliness and anger that would be on the mind of a creature upon finding out that he was "manufactured" and repulsive. She was a genius. BTW, I never liked the idea of people tinkering with things that are best left well enough alone (examples: cloning an extinct prehistoric beast, bioengineering foods or putting engineered DNA or nanobots into the bloodstream).

[@rickhobson3211]

Watching this on the internet, arguably yet another stand-in for Frankenstein's monster!

[@ryanbradley3293]

I love this channel and was so glad when I found out my English teacher gave an assignment to watch this video and answer questions before we read Frankenstein over the next month or so!

[@ernestweaver9720]

Thank you History Guy. I knew there was more to miss Shelly's thinking when she wrote this. What a piece of Work.

[@CaptainParatos]

One of my favorite books. Thank you for the great video, in which as usual I learned some new information that deepens my understanding of why I like it so much! So many good riffs on the original tale with Young Frankenstein as already commented on, in my opinion the funniest comedic take. A close second, that is 💯 80s to it's DNA, is Weird Science. Both Oingo Boingo's song, and the movie it was featured in. "My creation!"

[@spews1973]

I immediately gave this video a like when I saw the Halloween-inspired opening. I wish I could give it another one just for the poignant ending.

[@DavidHBurkart]

History I did not know. Thank you Sir Lance. Now you should put out swag shirts that sport the THG bowtie AND electrodes on either side. Just sayin'

[@jaygadd1805]

Thank you for this enlightening and entertaining program sir. Usually, I also enjoy perusing the various comments that expand the topic at hand, with thoughtful personal experiences or insight. However, many comments below seem either completely off-topic, derogatory, or otherwise contrary to established Community Guidelines. Again, first rate research and excellent presentation Lance. Thank you for your infectious enthusiasm!🤓

[@RichWhiteUM]

Which is the true monster, the creature or the mad man that created it? This is the question that I always took away from the story of Frankenstein. The monster as portrayed in the Showtime series "Penny Dreadful" was more akin to that of the monster in the novel. He was able to think and reason and he pined for his lost family, a wife and son.

[@briansullivan5908]

I really liked his character and felt so sorry for him.

[@lauralafauve5520]

Hearing/seeing him sing the lullaby to the sick child that was the same lullaby that my mother sang to me, I won't soon forget. Gave me chills! I loved the humanity in that character!

[@joshgreen2164]

I believe the monster is humanity. In the story and life. The creation was just misunderstood not remotely malevolent. People destroy it's kinda our thing.

[@coyotehater]

There was a BBC documentary a couple of years ago that promoted the idea that Shelly’s story was based on the Doctor & a lone cyberman named Ashad…

[@ImpartiallySpeaking]

0:41 The 1831 edition was the third to name Shelley, the first being the 1821 edition then the 2nd London edition of 1823.

[@terryengland2178]

Thanks for research and your passion. It really shows trough in this video.

[@jbart1411]

Great job, I really appreciate you doing this for all of us

[@MausMasher54]

You forgot to mention the the castle today is in Rhineland-Palatinate Germany, near to Bad Durkheim....I lived not far from in when I was stationed at Sembach AB in the '80s....

[@kennethrouse7942]

That's the OTHER Burg Frankenstein. I drove there once specifically to see it and later found out that the one the HG is talking about is indeed in Hesse. It's a little south of Darmstadt and is the one they have the Haunted House thing in every Halloween and advertise in The Stars and Stripes.

[@Korea4Me]

I never knew Frankenstein was a real place until my second Polish teacher told me that was her hometown! It was originally in Silesia (near Poland) and through the centuries has belonged to various other countries like Germany and Hungary. It wasn't until the 20th Century that it was given back to Silesia (which is now part of Poland). However, Frankenstein was given the name of Ząbkowice Śląskie in 1946. One could say that Frankenstein is easier to pronounce!

[@logan_e]

Love the Boris Karloff monster but "Young Frankenstein" is still my favorite! 😂👍🏼🇺🇸

[@garycarpenter2980]

If you like that try to watch Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein.... hilarious

[@maxupwithmax8097]

Amazing research and so appropriate for Halloween I never realised until today that Dr Frankenstein's name was derived from the words "bold" and "stone" It makes perfect sense to me😊👍

[@bridey1simon]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the connection with Ada Lovelace through Lord Byron. It’s just a side note to the story, but interesting. For some reason that always intrigued me. Ada Lovelace is another great subject for an episode if you haven’t done one already.

[@thisisbeyondajoke6748]

Is she a relative of Liinda.?

[@amandasmith593]

The idea that someone could read Frankenstein and come away using it defend slavery and vivisection is far more terrifying than anything in the novel itself.

[@ralph5118]

Thanks history guy for doing this story.

[@slotcarpalace]

Having recently re-read the novel, and setting aside nonsense science, I was struck by the cowardice of Frankenstein and his truly callous, fear-filled and contempt for his creation.

[@stevedietrich8936]

There is also a village named Frankenstein, complete with a ruined castle, a few miles east of Kaiserslautern, Germany. I drove through there several times back in the 70's and was always amused by the village sign with the castle in the background. Also, Lord Byron had many lovers, male and female.

[@patmancrowley8509]

Later known in life as Special Agent Franks of the Monster Control Bureau.

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

My son has an Action Figure of Frankenstein's Monster, he calls him Adam Frankenstein and he's a Heroic member of the Monster Squad.

[@nedludd7622]

This one of your best episodes. The ancient Greek writers probably don't have much documentation, but maybe Rabalais and Chaucer do.

[@dizzysquirrel4518]

After hearing this, it gives me more appreciation of the story of Frankenstein

[@SaturdaySportsman]

Low intelligence: Frankenstein is the monster. Average intelligence: Frankenstein is the doctor. High intelligence: Frankenstein is the monster.

[@navret1707]

It’s FrankenSTEEN!

[@SaturdaySportsman]

@@navret1707 🤣

[@jb-vb8un]

the low, low , low would be JOHN KERRY

[@pamelamays4186]

A great video to view as Halloween approaches. 🎃🏰⚡

[@georgefspicka5483]

When I was much younger then now, I read the original story by Mary Shelly. I was somewhat surprised at the difference between it and the assorted film versions, which puts the "monster" at a different perspective then i expected. It's like with "The Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. There's never been a film that matched what I saw in my brain while reading it as a teen.

[@birdie9680]

I understand the affection she feels for her progeny. But can words on paper be nearly such a comfort as human affection? Can they compare to the amazing experience of your first love or the overwhelming joy of your first born? I have lost both, so my understanding of the having, and the losing, is immeasurable. But those empty places left behind must be filled with something.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

In college our English Lit prof had us all read and critique _Frankenstein_ . It was just before Halloween. Then we spent an entire week watching all the classic Frankenstein movies, ending with _Young Frankenstein_ . It was great!

[@philiphendersonjr1760]

I have been loving your videos for a while now, but this is easily my favorite!! Thank you very much!!! Can we expect others on the other classic monsters? Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman, etc.? Again, thank you very much. Fantastic work.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn3con18lLybg8k

[@philiphendersonjr1760]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel thank you again, you and your team rocks! 🤘🤘🤘

[@davea6314]

It's just not the same topic without Gene Wilder's humorous acting. RIP Gene Wilder

[@PGar58]

That’s FRONK-un-Steen

[@SgtMjr]

@@PGar58 First thing I thought of as soon as I saw THG title!

[@davea6314]

@@PGar58 Lol

[@shawnr771]

Marty Feldman

[@cromulentwords]

@@shawnr771 "What the hell are ya doing in the bathroom day and night? Why don't you get outta there, give someone else a chance!"

[@TheWartHawg]

The book is not very similar to the movies. Maybe the De Niro version being the closest. The book reveals itself as being written by a young woman with little worldly experience. The "monster" proved itself to be a superior being in every way, turned into something violent by the rejection of it's creator, solely based on it's appearance.

[@jeanneratterman]

History Guy, you are a wonderful storyteller. Thank you so much.🤗👍👍

[@robertdragoff6909]

You mentioned Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein, but no mention of Young Frankenstein, and while it was a comedy, I think it’s the best version of them all! I’ve always felt another movie should be made, but with a twist For some unknown reason, Copies of Dr. Frankenstein’s wind up on the internet and 2 medical students stumble across the “Frankenstein Files” and decide to duplicate the Doctor’s experiments. A friend’s cat gets hit by a car and dies but two student Doctors decide to use the machine they built to reanimate the cat. It works, but the two gain notoriety and financial backing to upscale their experiments. Then the two get a visit from Doctor Frankenstein’s great, great, great Grandson who warns them that things will not turn out well! This ancestor would go by the by the name of Dr. Frank, and I think it’d be so cool if the character was played by (who else?) Gene Wilder…..

[@howardjohnson2138]

Always fun and interesting. Thanks

[@JohnBullard]

I believe Shelley drew from Lucan's Pharsalia, in which Erichtho, the witch, is contracted to reveal the future winner of the battle between Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus. She resurrects a dead soldier (the dead know the future) who gives a cryptic answer, and demands to be released, walking into a bonfire. It was the best chapter in the book, and the earliest horror story Ive read.