Comparison of Characters in The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The body snatcher written by Robert louis Stevenson and Frankenstein Written by Mary Shelley are two novel that can be compared easily and very effectively. Both works of literature deal with very similar details such as characters and their traits and theme. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a bright scientist from a wealthy family, who describe more reignition for his scientific works. Due to this, he becomes intrigued in the idea creating life.

By collecting various dead body parts and the use of bioelectromagnetic, Frankenstein succeeds in the recreation of life producing the creature, Victor’s creation runs wild and create a scene harm and havoc. Whereas the Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson is a story that examines the fine line between morality and duty.

The Body snatcher is a tale of two men, and the narrator, with a horrid backstory together. It has many examples of gothic and masculine gothic literature shows inside the story. The writer uses these gothic elements to give a better understanding to the story. He saw, with horror marks upon her body that might well betoken violence. The story somewhat focuses on obtaining dead bodies for dissection through the criminal underworld and grave robbing. This leads the reader to dark thoughts. The appearance of Gray's body at the end of the story, represents Fettes's and Macfarlane's guilty conscience about Gray's murder. The peer pressure in the story is exhibited especially through the character of Fettes. He is constantly pressured in his job by others to do what he does even though he doesn't necessarily like doing it. An example of this peer pressure would be how Fettes realizes the bodies are wrongfully murdered for the money however he is persuaded by MacFarlane to keep on with the business.

Frankenstein however does not view science in the positive light as it is viewed today. Her main character Frankenstein embarks on a project to create a human being from remains of dead people. Victor sacrifices his time with family and close friends to create life. He wants fame for creating a being with science. When he finishes his creation, he is so excited with his prowess and exclaimed that the new creation “would bless [him] as its creator and source… other side in the body of snatcher, most of the scenes in the story take place during the night or on stormy nights. This story is dark and includes death. The peer pressure in the story is exhibited especially through the character of Fettes. He is constantly pressured in his job by others to do what he does even though he doesn't necessarily like doing it.

One of example of this peer pressure would be how Fettes realizes the bodies are wrongfully murdered for the money however he is persuaded by MacFarlane to keep on with the business. Throughout the short story, Stevenson uses gothic character development for describe the past of Fettes and Dr. Macfarlane. He uses different gothic situations to give meaning to the murders.

Frankenstein was a visionary scientist who wanted to uncover what had not been done before. Furthermore, the scientist had presented an argument to a panel at university of Ingolstadt stating that he could reverse the process of death (26). Frankenstein collected a variety of human body parts and put them together to restore life. According to Shelley, Frankenstein was influenced by the modern scientists in that era who understood the way the body functions. Similarly, the scientist had the power to command thunder, a natural phenomenon like an earthquake and changed the pattern of day and night. The steps made by these scientist motivated Frankenstein to conduct an experiment that relates to human life and the environment. Frankenstein would collect the anatomical specimen of dead bodies and attempt to create a living thing. Currently, this method is applied to science.

For example, in the research center, there is equipment for the preservation of organdy and tissues to be use for the transplantation process. Additionally, some people intend to freeze their bodies so that future scientists will conduct experiments and revive them to cure the disease that caused their original death. Victor experiments have influenced all these steps. During the era of Frankenstein, very few scientists and researchers were concerned with an organ transplant.

Where other side in The Body Snatcher, had many tactics and tricks. They would get their routine down so that they could get the body in under one hour. They would use wooden shovels to dig, which minimized sound. When they didn't want to dig for bodies, they would sometimes go to morgues and steal bodies before their families could even come claim and identify them. Their business was huge during the winter months, because the cold would preserve the bodies longer. Scientists wanted the newest, freshest bodies to conduct experiments and autopsies on. Teachers at universities would want the bodies for autopsies or even anatomy lessons for students. Obviously, families didn't want their deceased family to be stolen. So, what did they do? Wealthy people could afford to install things such as grave alarms, guards to stand watch, stone vaults built over the grave, or even iron coffins to make it harder for body snatchers to get in. Some people would also build what is known as a 'Mort Safe,' which is essentially an iron cage that is built over graves.

Victor Frankenstein is experiencing the negative effects that come with abusing science. Victor had created a monster that was responsible for killing his youngest brother, William and indirectly the death of Justine. Justine had taken the blame for something that could have been avoided, had Victor never created the monster. Victor Frankenstein was well aware of the power that science had. He knew that he had the adequate knowledge of science along with the capacity to create. Victor’s self-ambition and desire to excel in the field of science led him to go against any doubts that he had and created life, but not just regular life, he created man. He is feeling strong sensations of guilt, but also of disappointment. He thought that his creation would be a great thing that would benefit mankind, and in the end that monster ruined his life. Victor's monster could have been a use of science because he has human like qualities. Other side When Fettes realizes that the bodies, he was dissecting were wrongfully murdered for the money, he is convinced by Macfarlane to keep his head down and keep on with his business. Human sin and greed are evident throughout many counts in the story, from the characters of MacFarlane and Fettes to the job of the people who bring in the bodies. One of the examples of the theme of human sin and greed would be the excursion that Fettes and Macfarlane go on to get the body of the old woman.

The context between both Macfarlane and Fette's about the money and state of things shows their greed to acquire money, even though they are committing such sin. Frankenstein and The Body Snatcher are horrified of what he is done. Both scientists discover that all of their pride and knowledge cannot conquer the unknown and unimaginable. The benefits of science can be seen both in the real world and in Frankenstein and the body snatcher. As with the many benefits there are also negative impacts in both instances. As a whole, science and research is something the human race benefits from- but when these new technologies are used for war and the creation of diseases, we have a lot to lose.