Title: Frankenstein According to Spike Milligan
Author: Spike Milligan
Date of First Publication: 1997
Place of Publication: Virgin
Type: Novel
Characters: Victor Frankenstein, The Creature
Themes: MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; POSTHUMAN; SYMPATEHTIC MONSTER
Critical Summary: Frankenstein According to Spike Milligan is a parodic take on the classic Frankenstein. It is a rewritten version of the original novel, but with alterations and different situations for comedic effect. This includes, but is not limited to: when Victor originally animates the monster, Spike Milligan wrote that the first words out of the monster’s mouth were “Have a fag, mate?”; the fact that the creature’s trousers keep falling due to lack of proper support; the monster being well endowed; Victor Frankenstein continuously being put in a straightjacket for talking about his monster; and many more.
The main characters are Victor Frankenstein and the Monster, and the book showcases their relationship in the most ridiculous way possible. The attitudes of the monster and Victor are parallel to the classic novel, but just more exaggerated. Victor has his mental breakdown and existential crisis about the monster while pacing up and down in a cabinet, the monster has a serious smoking problem, and the whole iteration of this story is supposed to feel like a comedy skit. The original novel is deep and complex when it comes to some of the central themes, but Spike Milligan’s book throws all of that perceived seriousness out the window in order to make the characters as ridiculous as possible. The entire concept is not a narrative on the story, or anything similar. It is just a fun, satirical riff on Mary Shelley’s version.
However, the connection between Milligan’s writing and Shelley’s writing is strong, albeit exaggerated. When one reads Frankenstein, there is a sympathetic mood felt towards the monster who just wants to be loved and accepted. He is helpless to circumstance, and he is seen as this flawed creature. According to Milligan, he is helpless to circumstance in a completely different way. In the classic novel, he is torn about being a conscious being, while in the parodic novel, he cannot keep his pants up. Victor in Shelley’s version is very pompous, he wants to escape the monster, but he knows that he is obligated to help the being that he is haunted by his conscience over his creation. Milligan’s Frankenstein is haunted as well, but only by the fact that he feels inferior to what the monster is packing. Another major element that Spike wrote into his book is the strong ‘not safe for work’ type language and scenarios that the original story is lacking (i.e. The Monster being desperate for sex, and etc.). The fact that the parody can easily find the humor in the brooding tormented relationship between Victor Frankenstein and the monster is what connects the off-kilter version to the well-known literary work that has transcended time.
Administrative Notes: Elizabeth Leaseburg, CSUF; Amada Howard, CSUF (editing)