 |
Frankenstein
(3 syl.). A young student, who made a soulless monster out of
fragments of men picked up from churchyards and dissecting-rooms, and
endued it with life by galvanism. The tale, written by Mrs. Shelley,
shows how the creature longed for sympathy, but was shunned by
everyone. It was only animal life, a parody on the creature man,
powerful for evil, and the instrument of dreadful retribution on the
student, who usurped the prerogative of the Creator.
“The Southern Confederacy will be the soulless monster of
Frankenstein.” —Charles Sumner.
Mrs. Shelley, unfortunately, has given no name to her monster, and
therefore he is not unfrequently called “Frankenstein” when alluded to.
This, of course, is an error, but Frankenstein's monster is a clumsy
substitute.
“I believe it would be impossible to control the Frankenstein we
should have ourselves created.” —Sir John Lubbock (a speech,
1886).
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Frankenstein from Infoplease:
|
|
