Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1817 as a teenager and published it in 1818. Shelley was born into a very strong, yet unconventional family. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a powerful feminist and philosopher and her father, William Godwin, was a radical writer. She was often influenced by such discussions as they were openly debated in the Shelley home and are seen frequently throughout her work. Interestingly, Mary Shelley’s mother gave birth to her though she was only married to her father for five months. It is said that the only reason her parents married was to ensure that Mary receives social respectability, though her parents, as revolutionaries, were opposed to the idea of marriage. It is also understood that Mary Shelley lived an irreligious life (also interpreted due to the lack of religion in her novel (s)). Her father was a radical irreligious philosopher. She had an intensely emotional as well as sexual relationship to Percy Shelley even while he was still married to his first wife. Shelley understood that Mary had a commitment to the principles shared by her parents and so, she saw her father’s ‘revolutionary philosophical personality’ within Percy Shelley. Additionally, her affair with Percy Shelley shows her encouraging some of her mother’s ideologies such as sexual freedom. When Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley travelled to Switzerland with Jane Clairmont, Lord Byron and John Polidori, they kept themselves entertained by reading ghost stories; after which Lord Byron suggested a competition to see who could write their own horror story. This is when Shelley began her work on Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus. Shelley had also said that the idea for Frankenstein had come from a nightmare she had; “I did not sleep, nor could I be said to think”. She thought “what terrified me will terrify others”. Her dream consisted of a student who had created some form of a creature or monster that had “speculative eyes”, which was directly used in her book. Before Shelley wrote the book, she had given birth to her daughter who then passed a few weeks later. She wrote Frankenstein in the awake of this tragedy and said that she dreamt “that [her] little baby came to life again”. There was a rumor about the Shelleys visiting Castle Frankenstein, which is said to have been her inspiration for the title of the book. There, they would have learned about an alchemist (Konrad Dippel) who tried to create an elixir that would allow people to live for over a hundred years. This alchemist was rumored to have dug up graves to experiment on corpses, as did Victor Frankenstein in the book.
CONTEXT Political
- The idea that Frankenstiens story showed his human cognitive state; Victor could not look past his physical appearance. This is also reflective of the political nature of the 19 th century whereby people would not have the same rights and not be equal due to their physical appearance. The idea that the creature is seen as an outsider and as inferior with no place in society is symbolic of how slaves were denied any human rights. - Shelley’s father and husband were well-known radical thinkers and writers. SCIENCE AND SOCIETY – FRANKENSTEIN; Mary Shelley Social
- Her father believed that everyone should think with the good of mankind in concern. He believed that otherwise, selfishness will rise and cause the ‘breakdown of society’. This influenced her book as the creator, Victor, is a man who acts and cares only for himself. He disregards the Monster’s wishes and put mankind in danger by giving the monster reasons to cause harm. - A construction of Social Enlightenment “Victor now resembles the European intellectuals who… actively promoted radical ideas at home but where aghast when overseas colonies chose to apply [it] to their own condition” (Fred Randel). This is shown as Victor actively tries to critique the traditional views of people towards human existence. Shelley uses this character to emphasize the idea of enlightenment towards the ‘birth of science’. - Shelley explores the notion of Marxism through Victor’s creature/monster. Frankenstein can understand the justice behind the monsters claims however he cannot give him the same rights as a man deemed necessities of life. The notions of Marxism is seen as the creature is called an “unfinished citizen”, as Victor can see the human thoughts behind the creatures stories but cannot move past his appearance to note him human and give him human rights. o Shelley portrayed how people perceive beauty and humanness of a person depending on physical appearances… not considering soul and mind. Historical
- During the 19th century, science became to appear as a profession. The monster of Frankenstein is symbolic of the ‘birth of science. ‘A man named Galvani had ‘re-animated dead tissue’, and another man, Aldini, had used electricity to make a criminal’s corpse appear to move in small places like his jaw and fist. Discoveries like so were discussed frequently within Shelley’s home. - Ideas of industrialization; the idea of scientific and technological advancements as well as the fears that arise with what is unknown. - The Romanticism period was a literary movement. It valued nature and individualism. Cultural
- It is set in the 18th century which was the end of the enlightenment period. Enlightenment emphasized the lack of need to follow religious beliefs and introduced reasoning as well as individualism. Such thinkers began welcoming scientific study and practiced skepticism, as did Victor Frankenstein. - Shelley also discusses the presentation of women within society. This is shown by Victors guilt towards Justine as he lets her suffer. During the time when the novel was written, women had no rights or say within society and culture. They were unprivileged and seen as inferior to men; with the sole purpose of serving their needs. This is portrayed in Justine as she is a weak, unfortunate and innocent woman who is used by Victor to outdo his sins. Shelley presents how women were objects of society.
