his monster. However, in the movie, a muscular half-naked Frankenstein is seen running from one end of his lab to the other flicking switches and pulling levers. When all falls silent he leaps upon the iron sarcophagus/womb and shouts at the being inside “LIVE, LIVE!” This whole scene is very dramatic and excites the viewer, which was Brannaugh’s intention. If the textual version were used, the scene would be mind-numbingly boring.In the movie, when the monster is animated, Victor embraces him and tries to show him how to walk. It is only when he thinks he has killed him that he laments the horrific act he has committed and vows never to do it again. This scene provides the audience with a sense that victor has compassion for his creation and not just hatred like the book conveys. This compassion is shown again when Victor is in the cave with the monster. In both the movie and the book the monster asks victor here if he will create a companion for him. In the movie, Victor does not seem afraid of his creation; instead he seems sorrowful and laments his actions to the monster. He agrees almost the minute the monster asks him to build a companion for him saying, “if I can right this wrong I have committed I will do so.” However, in the book Victor calls the monster a devil and refuses to provide him with a companion. Only when the monster threatens to kill Frankenstein’s family does he agree to make him a companion. Because Brannaugh does not present the audience with a vision of Frankenstein malignant with hatred, he must create a scene that will drive Victor on his journey north to kill the monster. It is a well-known fact that the monster kills Elizabeth on her and Victor’s wedding night as punishment for not making him a companion. However, Brannaugh’s recreation of this scene is a blasphemy to the text. The scene begins with a soaking Victor and a half-naked Elizabeth in...
