The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1064
In this novel written in 1842 by Edgar Allen Poe a disease known as the “Red Death” plagues a country causing its victims to die in quickly and in a gruesome manner. With the disease bringing rampage throughout the country the prince, Prospero, feels hopeful that this plague will soon end. In his naivety, the prince decides to lock the gates to the palace in order to fend off the “Red Death” ignoring its spread. It is during a masquerade ball thrown by the prince that he and his guests are visited by a mysterious character who is a victim of the “Red Death.” Filled with fear the prince tries to get away from this man, but to no avail, he and his guests succumb to the plague allowing for the disease to bring about its lasting reign of terror.
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41445
In this novel written in 1818 by Mary Shelley a young and gifted scientist by the name of Victor Frankenstein filled with grief from his mother’s death becomes obsessed with the idea of bringing life back to non-living matter and creating the perfect specimen. Through this obsession, he succeeds with his experiment giving life to a being of his own creation. However, as this creation comes to life he is filled with the horrifying realization of what he has done. He was not able to create a perfect specimen, but rather he created a hideous creature. Plagued with the rejection the creature has faced by his creator and mankind he sets off on a frenzy of revenge, murder, and terror. Although, the question remains who really is the monster?