The main storyline that lends credibility to this notion is that of an innocent, misunderstood being that is constantly misjudged and essentially pushed to the point of violence before the angry mob destroys it could have been applied to his own life to a certain extent. It could be possible that he saw himself as different, felt as if he was constantly being judged and would occasionally boil over into fits of anger. To top it off, we learned that he committed suicide at a later point in his life - this could be tangentially applied to the mob destroying the monster.I understand that a director can only do so much and that the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster existed for some time before Whale got his hands on it, but I certainly think it is plausible that when Universal presented him with his options for projects he associated himself with this script for these reasons.
I think it's possible Whale chose this project because he could relate with the themes mentioned. It's an interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteI think he could have done it to show how dangerous ignorance can be.
ReplyDeleteThe monster definitely becomes a scapegoat for the community's fears and anger. Most significant, of course, Frankenstein helps them in their hunt.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Gods and Monsters (1998) depicts Whale's Hollywood years.
Obviously he was given the script and didn't have much say in the basic plot, but he probably took personal experience to add emotional insight into the life of a misunderstood outcast. That may in fact be how he got us to sympathize with the monster toward the end.
ReplyDeleteI think we all relate to a story/movie based on our own experiences. Our experiences are what shapes and molds our perceptions. We view life thru these lenses, so I'm sure that Whale's drew upon these experiences and feelings to interpret the story. It great to have many different views of the same story.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I really liked Gods and Monsters too.