Bride of Frankenstein (character)
The Bride of Frankenstein is a fictional character first appearing in the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. She is arguably the most iconic female monster in cinema history, though her screen time is brief.
Creation and Purpose: In the film, Henry Frankenstein is coerced by his former mentor, Dr. Septimus Pretorius, to create a female companion for his original monster. Pretorius believes that the monster's unhappiness stems from his isolation and that a female companion would solve this problem. The Bride is constructed from various body parts, similar to the original Monster.
Appearance: The Bride has a distinctive and unforgettable appearance. Elsa Lanchester portrayed her with striking features, most notably a tall, voluminous hairstyle streaked with white lightning bolt patterns on each side of her head. She also features prominent stitches around her neck, indicating the surgical nature of her creation. Her makeup is pale and dramatic, contributing to her otherworldly and unsettling appearance.
Personality and Role in the Film: The Bride is brought to life using lightning, much like Frankenstein's monster. However, her existence is incredibly brief. Upon seeing the Monster, she lets out a piercing scream, rejecting him with the words "She hate you!" Her rejection, more than any other factor, leads the Monster to destroy the laboratory with both himself and the Bride inside. The Bride's character serves primarily as a catalyst for the Monster's despair and final act of destruction. She lacks a developed personality due to her short lifespan, but her single, definitive rejection solidifies her iconic status.
Legacy: Despite her limited screen time, the Bride of Frankenstein has had a lasting impact on popular culture. She is instantly recognizable and remains a symbol of classic horror, female monsters, and the themes of creation, isolation, and rejection explored in the Frankenstein narrative. Her image has been referenced and parodied countless times in films, television, literature, and art.