Monsters of Empire: A Postcolonial Reinterpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Abstract

This thesis critically explores the relationship between colonialism and literature, more specifically in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The focus of this work is on the different themes that emerge from the colonial context, such as alienation, the master-slave relationship between the colonizer and the colonized subject, and how the body is perceived as a site of control, oppression, and objectification. Each chapter explores these themes in depth, exploring issues commonly found in colonial contexts and drawing parallels with Frankenstein, as it perfectly portrays similar challenges.

The main purpose of the research is to highlight the impact of literary works in exploring social themes that affect the human being’s identity and social role, particularly in relation to experiences of oppression and inequality. The study has been conducted by providing pragmatic examples of how the phenomena of oppression, exploitation, and racism significantly impact the colonizer and, most significantly, the colonized subject. These dynamics have a profound psychological effect on the colonized subject, distorting his/her sense of identity, self-worth, and social status. Although these perceptions are false, they still undermine his/her mental self-image. Furthermore, the study provides practical examples of events in which the colonized individual successfully breaks free from the state of enslavement. The investigation involves a comparative analysis of literary texts and events from colonial history, highlighting the persisting relevance of systemic oppression and alienation in modern literature. Despite the lasting impact of colonialism, this research underscores the significance of literature, cinema, and art in promoting justice and equality.

Keywords: Colonialism, Frankenstein, Body, Alienation, Master, Slave.