A Slightly Not So Serious Review of Mary Shelley’s “Transformation” (1831)

Oh, Mary! You’ve truly outdone yourself this time. After the epic letdown that was “The Evil Eye,” you bounced back with “Transformation,” a tale that gives off serious transformer vibes—if the Transformers had existential crises rooted in Gothic literature, that is! Honestly, I felt like I was reading a mash-up of your own “Frankenstein.” I couldn’t help but think that the fiend in this story is basically Frankenstein’s monster or his cousin.

Now, let’s talk about our protagonist, Guido—an insufferably spoiled brat from Genoa, Italy. I mean, come on, give me one more reason to roll my eyes! This guy has been a bully since childhood and harbors some truly misguided notions about romance, especially when it comes to Juliet, his childhood playmate. Spoiler alert: this is not your typical “Romeo and Juliet” story.

In a plot that feels like a hangnail with a twist of Gothic flair, Guido forces Juliet to promise that she’ll marry him—at the tender age of eight! Nothing says true love like a lifelong commitment made before you even know what “personal grooming” means. Naturally, this brat decides he would rather gallivant around the world than think about adult responsibilities—who needs a job when you’ve got family land to sell off, right?

Fast forward through some questionable financial decisions, and our boy Guido finds himself back in Genoa, with a fiancée waiting and an empty wallet. And surprise, surprise—Juliet’s dad isn’t buying the vow because, spoiler alert: Guido has zero prospects! In a fit of denial, Guido ends up banished and plots revenge on Juliet’s father. Because nothing screams “romance” like kidnapping your childhood crush and killing her father!

Here comes the twist! While witnessing a shipwreck scene from the beach (because apparently, he didn’t get enough drama already), Guido encounters a horrendous fiend who’s all about revenge and body-swapping. Because that’s the most sensible solution, right? Trading bodies for three days—what’s the worst that could happen? I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say there’s an epic showdown that feels like an awkward blend of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “Dorian Gray.” Still, I believe the fiend is too similar to Frankenstein’s monster, who can also be a really decent, moral, loving being if he gets the chance. Or am I just naive?

Yours humorously,
An Overzealous Reviewer Who Just Can’t Help Herself