From monsters to heroes: Redefining the postmodern "monster" in Jeanette Winterson's Frankissstein

Jeanette Winterson's 2019 novel Frankissstein is a tour de force of literary intertextuality, weaving together diverse texts, genres, and historical references to create a narrative tapestry that challenges traditional boundaries and expectations. In its complex narrative, Winterson masterfully redefines the concept of monster, by questioning the traditional notions of monstrosity and heroism as well as reimagining how Shelley challenged the same concepts centuries ago. This criticism and redefinition scrutinize the notions of the hero and the monster in such a way that the definitions of these two concepts collide with each other. Since Winterson skillfully uses postmodern and contemporary narrative techniques, Frankissstein almost creates an understanding that suggests not only monsters are contemporary heroes but also the postmodern text itself becomes a monster. Through an examination of the novel's characters, narrative structure, and themes, this study explores how Winterson challenges traditional notions of monstrosity and heroism, highlighting the fluidity of identity and the subversion of established literary and societal norms within the postmodern framework.