10 Famous Books You've Been Reading Wrong This Whole Time

Before any discussion of the importance of Frankenstein can occur, it should be pointed out that Shelley wrote the book on a bet. She was trying to win a scary story competition between her, her husband Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron.

Also the concept came to her in a dream (or so she claimed). With all this in mind it would be perfectly valid to elide any discussion of the book's deeper themes and just read it as a nice creepy Gothic tale.

What the book most definitely is not about, contrary to its common interpretation, is playing God. You can in some small way read that to be a critical theme, but the major motif of the book is about taking responsibility for your own actions. (Ironic, as it was initially published anonymously.)

Dr Frankenstein didn't create a monster when he moulded a man-shape from fleshy playdough. He created the monster when he rejected his creature. What was he expecting, some kind of delightful Adonis-esque tennis buddy? On his first go?

Frankenstein opens with a quote from Milton that makes this point very clear: “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay / to mould me man? Did I solicit thee / From Darkness to promote me?”