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It's folly to claim there's only one central theme in a text as mythic as "Frankenstein," but the most tempting simplification is that it's a story about parenthood. Author Mary Shelley's baby daughter, Clara, died days after being born in 1815. Shelley's grief spun a tale of conquering death.

Victor Frankenstein builds a new life, literally, but abandons his creation at his "birth" because of his frightening appearance. The Creature enters into the world unloved, rejected like no child should be, and comes to desire revenge on his creator for beginning his cursed life. As the Creature (Jacob Elordi) tells his father (Oscar Isaac) in Guillermo del Toro's new "Frankenstein" film: "I demand a single grace from you. If you are not to

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