Who is Mary Shelley?

Mary Shelley, born Mary Godwin, was a English writer best known for her novel, Frankenstein, which has now seen countless adaptations that have revised the story. Shelley was born to the famous writer Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797 but her mother died shortly after her birth leaving her father, William Godwin, to take care of her. Mary Godwin would eventually go on to marry Percy Shelley and adopting his last name. While on a family trip in Geneva, her husband asked her to write a ghost story and Shelley was unable to produce anything in the next few days. Soon after this, a thought struck her and she began to write what she believed was going to be a short tale but after speaking with her husband, she decided to write a full length novel which would eventually form into Frankenstein. The themes, story, and ideas that were present in Frankenstein were very new for the time but it was immediately seized by a playwright at the time and made into a play and would later be made into movie adaptations well after Shelley's death. The last ten years of Shelley's life were plagued with disease and ill feelings with her eventual death resulting from what is assumed to be a brain tumor in 1851. Shelley's legacy is Frankenstein and being able to explore complex themes encompassing romanticism in a story that on the surface, does not seem like it can possibly explore complex emotions and one that explores elements of science fiction.

Mary Shelley's Words in 1831 on the Origin of Frankenstein

"Many and long were the conversations between Lord Byron and Shelley, to which I was a devout but nearly silent listener. During one of these, various philosophical doctrines were discussed, and among others the nature of the principle of life, and whether there was any probability of its ever being discovered and communicated . . . Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the creator of the world. His success would terrify the artist; he would rush away from his odious handiwork, horror-stricken. He would hope that, left to itself, the slight spark of life which he had communicated would fade - that this thing, which had received such imperfect animation, would subside into dead matter, and he might sleep in the belief that the silence of the grave would quench for ever the transient existence of the hideous corpse which he had looked upon as the cradle of life. He sleeps, but he is awakened; he opens his eyes, behold the horrid thing stands at his bedside, opening his curtains, and looking on him with yellow, watery, but speculative eyes! I opened mine in terror."

How Frankenstein Embodies the Romantic Movement

The idea of Romanticism at it's core is that it is meant to embody emotions and their effects on the self and the world, expanding into new ideas and concepts that were never previously explored, and creating a realistic experience grounded in nature. In Frankenstein, both Frankenstein and his assistant believe that they are meant to create something that would involve their combined creativity by going outside the boundaries of what was currently known.

When the monster is finally created, its thoughts, actions and emotions perfectly encapsulated the core of Romanticism because it is unaware of anything including culture and knowledge that exists in the world which mirrors how humans are curious to become normalized by the influences around them which is a key to romanticism. Throughout the novel, Shelley continuously makes references and includes vivid descriptions of nature and the world around the two scientists. Shelley constantly reminds the reader that the landscape around where they are making the monster is "cold". Lastly, the emotions expressed by not only the two scientists but the monster itself conveyed in the novel solidify this novel as one that is influenced by the Romantic movement but also as one that is a welcome addition to the Romantic library.

Frankenstein: A Summary and Review

Frankenstein is Mary Shelley's second work published in 1818 that centers on a scientist by the name of Frankenstein and his monster that he creates through his creativity and motivation to bring something new into the world that is greater than himself. Victor Frankenstein is deeply determined to get to work on his monster and finish his project without taking into account everything that could happen to the people around him and eventually, Frankenstein regrets his choice to make this monster.

During the course of the novel, we follow Frankenstein on his journey of regret and sorrow after being appalled with his creation. At times in the novel, Shelley includes details or ideas that are not crucial to the actual narrative of the novel and might bore or deter some readers from experience this novel in its full length. However, these ideas and details are crucial because they allow Shelley to immerse the reader into the carefully crafted world she has woven while also bringing old and new elements of romanticism into her novel.

After Victor Frankenstein dismantles the second monster he creates because his first monster asks him to make him a bride, the first monster vows to ruin his wedding night. After much turmoil in his personal life, he discovers that the monster is attempting to kill his bride, Elizabeth. Time passes and Victor is struck with disease, eventually dying. The monster grieves for his master and goes to end his own life at the end of the novel.

Throughout the novel, the reader sees many ideas of romanticism planted that involve Victor and his tragic life that give the reader a false idea that Victor may be able to redeem himself both physically and spiritually. With death surrounding Frankenstein, he looks for solace in nature to lighten his mood. The monster does the same as his creator when he begins to feel abandoned and rejected. In the conclusion of the novel, nature serves as the stage for Frankenstein's drive to find his creation and end it, bringing out his inherent motives and struggles.

In conclusion, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is able to tell a new and bold story for its time while also retaining and expanding the ideas of Romanticism that were prevalent for the time. A compelling narrative along with complex themes allows Frankenstein to remain a classic among novels and should be read by any looking to explore the sublime and Romanticism.

Mary Shelley and Frankenstein Knowledge Test

1. Is Mary Shelley's maiden name Goodwin?

• True
• False

2. Mary Shelley's first work was Frankenstein.

• True
• False

3. The main character of Frankenstein is Frankenstein, the monster.

• True
• False

4. What is a primary theme of Romanticism?

• Race
• Nature
• Creativity
• Both options 2 and 3

Answers:

1. False
2. False
3. False
4. Option 4: Both options 2 and 3