Introduction

For ages human beings have tried to solve the mystery of creation, and to find throughout their discoveries a way to create artificial life, but they never thought of the consequences these discoveries could bring out. However, Mary Shelley considered this idea in her gothic work, Frankenstein, published for the first time in 1818. This novel offers us a captivating plot, but also a philosophic meditation about life.

We all know the story of Doctor Frankenstein who, passionate by sciences, solves the mystery of life and a monster upon whom he lost control. However, although this story is very famous, its success is not only due to its author's writing skills, but mainly to the cinematographic adaptation realized by James Whale, 1931. Everyone remembers the monster that Whale created, with the two screws planted in his neck.

So how come the adaptation to the screen of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has helped the novel to become famous?

First, we'll study the literary work: the conditions in which it was written, Mary Shelley's inspirations, the way she lived the publication of her novel and the public reception. Then we'll study the film: its differences with the novel, the reasons of its success, and the reasons why it's still  a blockbuster nowaday's.