Frankenstein by Mary Shelley After reading the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and seeing several adaptations made for the big screen, there are changes that the films make to the book. The most obvious change that stands out to me is the portrait of Doctor Victor Frankenstein. The common missing element in all film versions of the classic novel is their treatment of Victor's character. All the films tend to downplay the "monster" Victor and instead emphasize what a monster the Creature is. The films seem to emphasize less of the responsibility and guilt Victor feels towards his creation, as shown in the book. Instead of taking a stand on “a crime against nature” for attempting to play God, the films present the film as “a science experiment gone awry.” When you read the book Frankenstein and look at the character of Victor, you can't help but see his character flaws. Doctor Frankenstein is portrayed as a selfish, egomaniac, determined to bring life back to his stitched-together creation, and does not stop to think about the consequences. Though only later in the book, when Victor and Elizabeth get married, does his true selfish nature emerge once again. Victor believes that the Creature is coming to seek revenge on him, without thinking for a moment about the well-being of his future bride, Elizabeth (144). In the novel it's all about Victor and his selfishness, where, as in the film versions, it seems like Victor is trying to protect Elizabeth. Whether it's an outside noise or the rapid movement of a shadow, in the films it seems like Victor is trying to protect Elizabeth. A point in the book where his guilt and the shame of his creation could not be more evident. it is after it is resurrected, the birth of the Creature (35). Instead of capitalizing on this powerful scene and the theme of the book, the film directors missed this opportunity. In the 1994 film Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh, Branagh changes this scene in the film by having Victor believe that he accidentally killed the creature and that all of his guilt is believed to be gone. By editing this scene, Kenneth Branagh failed to capture the sense of lack of casting and lack of feeling that Victor displays towards the Creature as well as he did in the book. The biggest change between the novel and the film adaptations is undoubtedly the Creature. Obviously for reasons of time... half paper... forever. However, he tries to use the knowledge he has gained for good, trying to help his family in the woods, but since society rejects him, he lashes out against them and his creator, Victor. Most film versions of Frankenstein have chosen not to take the “attainment/abuse of knowledge” theme as their main theme. They have tended to focus primarily on the "monster movie" aspect of the theme; this less intelligent monster who terrorizes the countryside and hunts his creator. However, the most recent Frankenstein film, made by Hallmark Pictures, is the most faithful representation of Mary Shelley's original novel. This film tends to add elements that are not present in previous films, such as showing glimpses of Elizabeth and Henry's positive use of their knowledge. The monstrous nature of the Creature is amplified in my opinion by actually showing his superior intelligence in the Hallmark version of the film. He seems more sinister due to his high level of intelligence. Although the Hallmark version of Frankenstein is one of the best to date, none of the film versions of Frankenstein used knowledge, abuse, and the attainment of it as a main theme..