Bibliotherapy on Adam Frankenstein’s Reading

Abstract

This paper begins its discussion by doubting first if the artificial creature in Frankenstein is simply a monster, as most of the previous studies characterize him. From the post-humanistic perspective, the artificial creature is the one who has a creaturely right equivalent to human rights and, hence, distinct self-identity. For his symbolic stance as a progenitor of his own kind and his relationship with Victor Frankenstein, this paper names him Adam Frankenstein and investigates how Adam’s self-identity is formed through his reading process. Regarding that this paper explores the dynamic interaction between the reader and the texts he reads, it is a kind of virtual bibliotherapy for Adam Frankenstein. Through the bibliotherapeutic analysis, it is confirmed that Adam Frankenstein is not just a monster, but he is transformed into a good and social-minded humanist while reading, even though he ends up turning into a monstrous being when he realizes he can’t socialize with anyone in the world. It is reading that moulds Adam Frankenstein’s identity and colors it. That is, reading is self-making and world-making, not only to the human beings but also to the post-humanistic creature.