Personality Problem

Title: Personality Problem

Author: Joe R. Lansdale

Date of First Publication: 1983

Place of Publication: Twilight Zone magazine

Type: Short Story

Critical Summary: “Personality Problem”, by Joe R. Lansdale, is an extremely short story that barely reaches one page. The story exhibits The Creature from Frankenstein talking to a therapist or physician about his life. In this story, the creature addresses many tropes about himself from adaptions of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. He addresses his physical appearance, from popular depictions of the creature, like his ragged suit and his ugly scars or uneven shoulders. He mentions Igor, who does not appear in the original novel, but becomes a popular trope in later depictions. He explains his frustration with Victor and Igor. He also mentions being trapped in a burning windmill which appears in the 1931 film, Frankenstein, along with other ways he is killed in films and books, such as being buried alive or frozen in ice. In the end, the doctor he is speaking to turns against him as well, trapping him in a burning room.

This story features the creature from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel, however, he is not only from the original story. In his version, it is as if the creature has lived through the many stories created over the years before making his way into this short story. He is displayed as a sympathetic monster as the reader can’t help but feel compassion for the creature. The story is told directly from the creature where he reveals that he does not like his appearance, is constantly under attack, and unable to have normal life experiences. the creature is very frustrated and focuses his frustration on Victor and Igor for creating him. In this story, he appears very human and is easy for the reader to relate to.

Administrative Notes: Raymond Alarcon CSUF; Alexandra Hollinshead (editing)