JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
Is is easy to say that the editors here made a mistake labeling a monster “Frankenstein” as the Mary Shelley creation was only called by its creator’s name by popular usage–but no matter, the message to the readers of Punch magazine where this full-page political cartoon appeared in May 1882 was very clear, and as damaging as it could be short of baby-eating. I think though that the title was referring to the cowering figure in the background, who is supposed to be Charles Stuart Parnell, as “Frankenstein”, and the “monster” was a radical aspect of the Irish Nationalist movement. The image was made in response to the Phoenix Park assassinations which occurred just weeks earlier, and Punch no doubt wanted to send a hard message to its readers. In any event, I usually come back to the defense of the original “monster”, who was thoughtful, well-read, and philosophical, and not much like how he would be later portrayed.
