# Let us assume that Victor Frankenstein was real, and it all worked **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [March 12, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470 "2025-03-12T14:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/41 "2025-03-12T17:40:00Z")
In the original film trilogy, he can eat and drink. It is unclear how much he needs to do so. In the original novel, he barely needs any food or liquid to stay alive- or whatever he is. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/42 "2025-03-12T18:26:25Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > AIUI, the reanimated would be stronger and more durable, incur no food costs, have longer lifespans with no decrepitude, and less intelligence in the matter of escaping or general disobedience. On the other hand, lack of intelligence is a limiting factor in what work can be demanded. > > But it’s not an either/or. Having worked their slaves to death, slavers could simply reanimate them. Hell, if the reanimated slaves don’t eat and never die, screw working the regular slaves to death, just kill them right now, and reanimate them. Why waste money on food if you don’t have to? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/43 "2025-03-12T19:14:02Z")
One possibility that occurs to me is that if the process also works on animals - and logically it would - then you have an alternate source of raw material for “golems”. Except for the brain, but at least that seems to work on a one brain, one golem principle instead of needing multiple donors; and for simpler tasks you could use an animal brain or maybe even just a computer. As technology advances you’d likely see reanimated flesh bits installed as components for more conventional technology. Imagine an “unmanned” tank for example controlled by an obedient reanimated brain and reanimated arms emplaced internally for tasks like reloading ammunition. Or a fighter jet controlled by the reanimated brain of a hawk, or powered exoskeletons that use reanimated muscle instead of mechanical power. > [@DocCathode](#): > > Reanimated corpses as cheap manual labor can be seen (in a non porn fashion) in OTTOMH George R R Martin’s short story Override, and are a hot button political issue in the universe of Ron Goulart. In Goulart’s work (non spoiler) the central government sends one of its best espionage agents to influence a vote on ‘zombie labor’ Simon Green also has zombie labor be an issue in one of his Hawk & Fisher books, including a terrorist necromancer who takes them over and sends them on a collective murderous rampage to make using them politically unacceptable. Also, Frankenstein comes up repeatedly in his urban fantasy. Both his creations and their creations, who have their own subculture, and the man himself who has made himself immortal. Well, until his final “perfect” creation kills him, because _of course_ that’s what would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/44 "2025-03-12T19:57:19Z")
All tech develops. It would start there, but not stay there, unless banned. On that topic, Unions would get really, really militant. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/45 "2025-03-12T20:01:18Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Ron Goulart Why not? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/46 "2025-03-12T22:00:20Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Sadly, these pioneers of free market dynamism had their nascent business crushed by the heavy hand of state regulation. This made me genuinely laugh out loud. Bravo! Sarcasm is alive and well, living in the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/47 "2025-03-13T09:12:40Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Reanimated corpses as cheap manual labor can be seen (in a non porn fashion) in OTTOMH George R R Martin’s short story Override, Martin also wrote the deeply disturbing story _Meathouse Man_, set in the same universe, which is about corpse brothels. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/48 "2025-03-13T15:39:47Z")
You know, I thought about drawing the parallel between real-world sexual exploitation by slavers and predictable consequences of corpse reanimation in the 1800s, but frankly I chickened out. Thank you for your service. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/49 "2025-03-13T15:49:54Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > If anything, reanimating the dead as “mindless labor” might well be considered an _anti-slavery_ measure. That’s a really interesting point. A three way civic battle between slavery abolitionists pushing reanimation as a compromise solution, anti-resurrectionists pleading for dignity in death, and the amoral who aren’t particularly fussed about where their free labour comes from and just wish the first two would shut up. > [@Miller](#): > > Pretty sure Frankenstein’s monster eats. He’s not undead, he’s a corpse brought back to life. He still has standard biological functions. > [@DocCathode](#): > > In the original film trilogy, he can eat and drink. It is unclear how much he needs to do so. > > In the original novel, he barely needs any food or liquid to stay alive- or whatever he is. Fair enough - I think we’re playing by movie rules. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/50 "2025-03-13T16:47:27Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I think you just came up with a new subgenre of scifi, GolemPunk. Mods, can we cornfield this before someone Rule 34s it? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/51 "2025-03-13T16:50:46Z")
I shall have to read it. I used to have his short story collection Nightflyers. I loaned it to a friend who misunderstood and thought it was a gift. I didn’t have the heart to disillusion them. The only story I didn’t like in that book was Non Spoiler Weekend In A War Zone. It was well written but I had trouble accepting the premise. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/52 "2025-03-13T21:16:00Z")
ISTM that had Frankie technology worked, but was thereafter unable to be very much improved from back then to the e.g. 1940s, the current result would be … Rudy Giuliani I’ll be here all week. Tip well and try the veal. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/53 "2025-03-13T21:25:50Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > If they all looked like Michael Sarrazin, you could have a successful gigolo escort service. I feel I’ve learned something about you today, Burp. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/54 "2025-03-13T21:28:15Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > I think you just came up with a new subgenre of scifi, GolemPunk. > > Mods, can we cornfield this before someone Rule 34s it? Too late. > [@Let us assume that Victor Frankenstein was real, and it all worked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/13): > > Or GolemPorn. Because he would certainly have an enormous schwanzstucker. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/55 "2025-03-13T21:40:11Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > My objection is that the number of such beings would be inherently much more limited than just normal humans. If you’re building a body out of bits of corpses, you’d need several corpses for each Frankie. If you’re looking to build a huge workforce, it’d be easier to just hire people off the street. > > Unless the Frankies can do something regular humans can’t do, I don’t think it would make much difference. Rich people might have them around for show… I think if Dr. Frankenstein could prove he re-animated a corpse then rich people would figure out a way to have their brains transferred to new bodies before they died and the brain atrophied granting a way to extend their lives. That would be worth a fortune. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/56 "2025-03-13T21:44:58Z")
You said that was between us and your “gift” is in the mail. What _more_ do you want from me? I’m only human! Aren’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/57 "2025-03-13T21:46:10Z")
Yeah, it really depends on the nature of the Frankies. How much of the original mind is retained? At some point we enter Altered Carbon territory. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/58 "2025-03-13T22:05:05Z")
A bit off-topic, but is the film Frankenstein called “Doctor”? And is his name Victor, or Henry, as @MrAtoz mentioned above? In Mary Shelley’s novel, Victor Frankenstein is a student of “natural history” at the University of Ingolstadt, and not a doctor of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/59 "2025-03-13T22:08:20Z")
Get out… ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470/60 "2025-03-13T22:12:17Z")
He is Henry in the 1931 film. Also his assistant is named Fritz. > **[Frankenstein (1931 film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein_(1931_film))** > > Frankenstein is a 1931 American gothic pre-Code science fiction horror film directed by James Whale, produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., and adapted from a 1927 play by Peggy Webling, which in turn was based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The Webling play was adapted by John L. Balderston and the screenplay written by Francis Edward Faragoh and Garrett Fort, with uncredited contributions from Robert Florey and John Russell. > Frankenstein stars Colin Clive as He... Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-us-assume-that-victor-frankenstein-was-real-and-it-all-worked/1015470.md?page=4)