Mascarons of Paris: Frankenstein

Left: Frankenstein mascaron, 7th. Arr. Right, Boris Karloff figure, Musée Grévin

In the architecture and decorative arts around France, I've spotted resemblances to Dracula, the mummy, a sea creature, and more werewolves than I can recall. So it was just a matter of time before Frankenstein showed up.

And yes, I refer to the creature as Frankenstein, against the tide of English literature professors and horror scolds alike. A key theme in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel is patrimony, specifically what fathers (in this case, the Creator) owe their progeny. If the Creature is Frankenstein's forsaken offspring (it is), early 19th century European society would have recognized its surname in fact, if not in legal entitlements. If everyone knew that a disavowed and neglected bastard was yours (and the readers of the novel certainly knew), and it had no given name and no known mother, by what other name could it be called but yours? 

So the doctor is Frankenstein, and so, by custom, is the Creature.

Not an important matter in the big scheme of things, but glad to have it settled once and for all.

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