Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

Mary Shelley, 1818

Sailing toward the North Pole, the explorer Robert Walton rescues a half-frozen stranger from the ice. The stranger, Victor Frankenstein, tells him the story of how a brilliant young scientist from Geneva set out to uncover the secret of life—and what that ambition cost him.

The dangers of ambition and forbidden knowledgeA creator's responsibility for what he makesLoneliness and the need for companionshipJudging others by their appearance

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Public domain: the author died in 1851 and the work was published in 1818, so its copyright has ended in Korea, the US and the EU. Everything written here is our own; no translation is copied.

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Characters

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Victor Frankenstein 빅터 프랑켄슈타인 A gifted young scientist from Geneva, haunted by a secret he is finally ready to tell. Main character Appears in part 1
The Creature 피조물 A being made by human hands, abandoned the moment he woke and searching for his place in the world. Main character Appears in part 1
Robert Walton 로버트 월턴 An ambitious English explorer sailing for the North Pole, writing letters home to his sister. Main character Appears in part 1
Elizabeth Lavenza 엘리자베스 라벤자 Gentle and brave, she grew up beside Victor and holds the Frankenstein family together. Main character Appears in part 1
Henry Clerval 헨리 클레르발 Victor's cheerful, imaginative best friend, who loves stories, languages and doing good. Main character Appears in part 1
Alphonse Frankenstein 알퐁스 프랑켄슈타인 Victor's devoted father, a respected public man of Geneva who lives for his family. Appears in part 1
Caroline Frankenstein 캐롤라인 프랑켄슈타인 Victor's loving mother, who once knew poverty and never forgets those in need. Appears in part 1
M. Waldman 발트만 교수 A kind professor of chemistry at Ingolstadt whose lecture changes Victor's life. Appears in part 1
M. Krempe 크렘페 교수 A gruff, blunt professor of natural philosophy who has no patience for alchemy. Appears in part 1
William Frankenstein 윌리엄 프랑켄슈타인 First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
Justine Moritz 쥐스틴 모리츠 First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
Ernest Frankenstein 어니스트 프랑켄슈타인 First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
Old De Lacey 드 레이시 노인 First appears in part 3. Read up to part 2 to meet them without spoilers.
Felix De Lacey 펠릭스 드 레이시 First appears in part 3. Read up to part 2 to meet them without spoilers.
Agatha De Lacey 애거사 드 레이시 First appears in part 3. Read up to part 2 to meet them without spoilers.
Safie 사피 First appears in part 3. Read up to part 2 to meet them without spoilers.
Mr Kirwin 커윈 씨 First appears in part 4. Read up to part 3 to meet them without spoilers.