Each season of the show follows the adventures The Doctor has with his companion or companions until they are inevitably replaced by new humans as the current companions and The Doctor, for some unforeseeable circumstance such as a memory loss or a time lock or a death, must part ways. Although the show, for the most part, is joyful and full of adventure, there are moments where the human side of The Doctor is revealed. We eventually learn that The Doctor is of a species called "Time Lords", and that during the Time Lord's attempt to destroy Earth, The Doctor protected Earth while simultaneously destroying his entire species. The Doctor now roam the galaxy as the last living Time Lord, and it is this loneliness that causes him to constantly recruit new human companions. Because of Time Lords' naturally much longer life span, however, the Doctor knows that he will eventually again be alone as he outlives all of his companions.
Like Frankenstein's creature, the Doctor also seeks companionship. However, although at first slightly reluctant, the people the Doctor invite to join him on his journey almost always agree. The monster faced a different fate. The monster was shunned by every human it met and was exiled to be alone in the wilderness. What was the difference between these two lonely beings that made the Doctor a desirable companion? While it is easy to say that their outward appearance is a major major factor, their appearance cannot be the only factor, as the Doctor has had companions of different intergalactic species who are revolted by the sight of Time Lords.
This brings us to one of the themes that is ubiquitous in Doctor Who but is no where to be seen in Frankenstein, acceptance. Throughout the series, the theme of acceptance is constantly being reiterated. The writer of the shows seem to highlight the kind nature of human beings that, throughout human history, has been increasingly widespread as more and more groups of people are welcomed in the societal and global community. Shelley, however, disagreed with this notion and in Frankenstein, highlighted more of the social ostracism of some people that was more prevalent in her time.
I think the comparison of these two fictions, one written with the values of a writer in the 1800s, one written with the outlook of writers of current time, show a paradigm shift in what we, as a society, consider to be human nature. Shelley's Frankenstein highlights the evil and wretchedness of society, while Moffat's Doctor Who focuses on the growth of society and mankind as a whole, and the possibilities of what that growth can accomplish in the future.
This brings us to one of the themes that is ubiquitous in Doctor Who but is no where to be seen in Frankenstein, acceptance. Throughout the series, the theme of acceptance is constantly being reiterated. The writer of the shows seem to highlight the kind nature of human beings that, throughout human history, has been increasingly widespread as more and more groups of people are welcomed in the societal and global community. Shelley, however, disagreed with this notion and in Frankenstein, highlighted more of the social ostracism of some people that was more prevalent in her time.
I think the comparison of these two fictions, one written with the values of a writer in the 1800s, one written with the outlook of writers of current time, show a paradigm shift in what we, as a society, consider to be human nature. Shelley's Frankenstein highlights the evil and wretchedness of society, while Moffat's Doctor Who focuses on the growth of society and mankind as a whole, and the possibilities of what that growth can accomplish in the future.
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