Frankenstein: what the Lord Byron quote that opens the film means
To adapt Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro He opted to remain faithful to Mary Shelley’s original text, but also to add some details that combine well with the universe he has built in the cinema, and to add elements that are full of meaning.
One of those elements is a famous quote from one of Lord Byron’s most famous poems, which tells us a lot about the story even before it begins to unfold.
The symbols are everywhere in the version of Frankenstein of del Toro, nothing is there by chance or simply because it looks or sounds good. The actors, costumes, and even the lighting were carefully chosen, and opening the film with a fragment of a poem is intentional.
Furthermore, according to the story Lord Byron knew Mary Shelley and it was he who challenged her to write a ghost story, which led her to start writing what would become Frankenstein.
Why does Frankenstein (the movie) open with a quote from Lord Byron?
Before we begin to see what happens in this story, a quote appears on the screen that belongs to a poem by Lord Byron, one of the most famous British poets and one of the great representatives of romanticism. The quote is part of a poem titled The Pilgrimages of Childe Haroldwhich was published a few years after the publication of Frankensteinof Mary Shelley.
The quote seen at the beginning of the film says:
“The day drags on though the storms block the sun; and so the heart will break, but it will live broken,” Lord Byron.
The poem tells the story of Harold, a young nobleman who is disillusioned with life and somewhat cynical, who embarks on a journey where he begins to have different experiences and reflections, but also seeks to distract himself through the search for different pleasures in distant lands.
It is a poem full of melancholy that, as Britannica explains, makes a contrast between idealism and the reality of the world, which is something with which Victor Frankenstein and his creature meet, although in different ways.
Frankenstein begins with the ideal of creating something alive and perfect, but he soon realizes that the perfection he aspires to does not exist, and that leads him to a reality check. On the other hand, the creature comes into the world as an innocent being, who changes his perspective on life as he faces different situations, visits other lands and witnesses the cruelty of which human beings are capable.
Hi! I’m Renato Lopes, an electric vehicle enthusiast and the creator of this blog dedicated to the future of clean, smart, and sustainable mobility. My mission is to share accurate information, honest reviews, and practical tips about electric cars—from new EV releases and battery innovations to charging solutions and green driving habits. Whether you’re an EV owner, a curious reader, or someone planning to make the switch, this space was made for you.
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