The Meaning( s) of Frankenstein

Abstract

This article has a twofold intention. On the one hand it aims to recapitulate and evaluate many of the possible meanings ascribed to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. These meanings are seen as complementary and not as comparable on a scale of validity or accuracy. On the other, its target is the process of literary interpretation itself, which is viewed as politically inscribed within the contest of meaning-making that takes place in departments of literary studies. Taking Frankenstein as a case study, the article concludes that interpretation is an inevitable language-effect of the situation of the reading subject.

Opsomming
Hierdie artikel beoog om twee doeleindes te bereik. Aan die een kant word daar gepoog om heelwat van die moontlike interpretasies van Mary Shelley se Frankenstein te hernoem en te evalueer. Hierdie interpretasies word gesien as komplementerend, en nie as vergelykbaar op 'n skaal van geldigheid of akkuraatheid nie. Aan die ander kant is die artikel se doel ook die proses van interpretasie van die literatuur self; die proses is polities gelaai in die stryd oor betekenisgewing in literatuurdepartemente. Frankenstein word gebruik as 'n voorbeeld en die artikel kom tot die slotsom dat interpretasie 'n onvermyde­like taaleffek is van die situasie van die leser.