Frankenstein
A young scientist becomes obsessed with animating dead matter and creates a living creature, which he immediately abandons in horror. The creature's lonely quest for companionship and his creator's guilt drive the tragic narrative.
Frankenstein invented science fiction and explored the ethical responsibilities of creators and scientists. The novel's ambiguity about who is truly monstrous makes it a profound meditation on prejudice and compassion.
Written during the Romantic movement's fascination with Gothic horror and amid scientific excitement about electricity and anatomy, Frankenstein reflects anxieties about progress and the pursuit of knowledge.
Mass production and urbanization gave rise to the modern novel and the exploration of social inequality.