Title: The Creature on the Couch
Author: Michael Bishop
Date of First Publication: 1991
Place of Publication: The Ultimate Frankenstein
Type: Short Story
Characters: The Creature
Themes: MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; SYMPATHETIC MONSTER
Critical Summary: Michael Bishop’s The Creature on the Couch is a short story that examines elements from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in a modern setting. Within this work, Frankenstein’s Creature is found alive and…well, still kind of miserable. Set nearly 200 years after the events in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the story focuses on Jerrold Zyltra, a psychologist and his new patient, Vyvyan Franklin Goodloss, a man suffering from fits of howling in the night. Having been sent Vyvyan as a favor to his father-in-law, Dr. Zyltra works tirelessly to help Vyvyan get to the root of his troubles. In their first meeting, Vyvyan is described as large and grotesque. He also believes he is the same Creature from Shelley’s novel. Zyltra finds this preposterous as Frankenstein was written nearly 200 years prior and was supposedly a work of fiction. But as Vyvyan’s treatment continues, he begins to see the truth in the Creature’s tales. Though at first he believes Vyvyan is suffering from delusion, Zyltra decides to heal this created persona in order to get to the tortured soul inside. Zyltra cannot help but feel repulsed by Vyvyan’s physical form, especially after seeing what lies under the mask that Vyvyan wears. Over the next few weeks Zyltra carves out extra time after hours for his sessions with Vyvyan, which is at the expense of his free time with his wife. Although, they make small breakthroughs, it is not until Zyltra enlists the help of his assistant Nessa that they really begin to see progress. As Zyltra had hypothesized, Vyvyan needed the presence of a female in his life. With the help of Nessa, Dr. Zyltra is able to rapidly advance the healing process and soon after, Vyvyan’s fits of howling cease to occur. Just when it appears that Vyvyan’s troubled mind has been healed, Nessa reveals that her boyfriend has proposed and that she will no longer be working with Zyltra and Vyvyan. This news sends Vyvyan into a jealous rage in which he lashes out at Nessa. Zyltra tries to shoot the monster but is overpowered and is injured by his own weapon. Ultimately, Zyltra recounts the story from a hospital ward. Nessa is revealed to be recovering at home, while Zyltra is charged with her attempted murder. Much too his chagrin, Vyvyan is never seen again.
Bishop’s work builds off Frankenstein and adds a psychological twist on the story by having the Creature undergo psychological treatment. This reveals the broken being inside and helps him begin the healing process. Although, it seems his progress is ultimately destroyed by the end of the story. the Creature appears sympathetic as his heartbreaking struggle continues in this short story. His psychoanalysis reveals an intelligent but troubled mind which longs for a normal life that can never be, even in the modern era.
Administrative Notes: Trevor Chansler, CSUF; Andrew Ruvalcaba (editing)