How Does Mary Shelley Create Suspense In Frankenstein

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Frankenstein Essay In the graphic novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley portrays suspense through the use of cliffhangers and bleak images which cause characters to appear unpredictable and the reader to expect the worst. The use of cliffhangers in Frankenstein greatly leads to suspense. Notably, Shelley takes advantage of this anxious and insecure feeling when Robert Walton’s ship sails through glaciers and the silhouette of a stranger of inhumane stature is seen whipping his sled dogs and disappearing into the distance. The reader, however, isn’t aware that The Creature is able to function on it’s own, or even escaped Victor Frankenstein’s watch. This leaves the reader wondering whether the stranger is an innocent dog sledder, or a fearsome creature assembled from corpses and brought to life with an electric shock. More compelling evidence is shown …show more content…
This is most prominent on page 29 when Victor Frankenstein awakes from his nap only to find The Creature reaching towards, and then diving into his bed to try and catch him as he runs away. The panels are full of a blue, black, and gray color scheme that provokes the reader to feel like there is no escape for Victor, and that The Creature is going to catch, and kill him. Looking more closely at The Creature’s hand and arm, broken glass can be seen lodged in him which make him look inhuman and unable to feel pain. Similarly on page 58, when The Creature enters the farming family’s small cottage with a smile on his face. As the family shields themselves behind a stick, it appears as if The Creature is about to murder the whole family, but in reality he simply wanted to make pleasantries. The chilling color scheme shown in this panel and the fear on the faces of the family leads the reader to presume the worst. Bleak, and somewhat desolate imagery leads the reader to assume the worst will
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