Mary Shelley - Frankenstein (1818)

 

Introduction

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a cornerstone of Gothic literature and a profound exploration of human ambition, science, and morality. This article delves into Shelley’s life, the creation of Frankenstein, and its enduring themes and significance.

Key Highlights

• Mary Shelley: A Brief Biography

1. Born: August 30, 1797, in Somers Town, England.
2. Family: Daughter of philosophers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft.
3. Early Life: Raised by her father after her mother’s death; educated by private tutors.
4. Relationship with Percy Bysshe Shelley: Began a controversial relationship with the married poet, leading to social ostracism. They later married and had a son.
5. Literary Works: Authored novels like Valperga, The Last Man, and Lodore, but Frankenstein remains her most famous work.

• The Genesis of Frankenstein

1. Inspiration: Conceived during a stay at Lake Geneva in 1816, where Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori engaged in a ghost story contest.
2. Dream Vision: Shelley’s idea for Frankenstein came from a dream about a scientist who creates life.
3. Publication: First published anonymously in 1818 due to Shelley’s young age (20) and the novel’s controversial themes.

• Narrative Structure & Plot Synopsis

1. Frame Narrative: Related through letters from Arctic explorer Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret Saville, recounting Victor Frankenstein's tragic tale.
2. Victor Frankenstein: A young natural philosopher whose ambition leads him to animate a creature constructed from cadaverous parts. Horrified by his creation, he abandons it.
3. The Creature: Physically grotesque and universally rejected, including by its creator. Experiences profound isolation, seeks understanding and companionship, but turns to vengeance when spurned.

• Key Tragic Events:

1. Creation and immediate abandonment of the Creature.
2. Murder of Victor's younger brother, William Frankenstein.
3. The Creature's demand for a female companion; Victor's initial acquiescence followed by destruction of the unfinished mate.
4. Subsequent murders of Victor's friend Henry Clerval and bride Elizabeth Lavenza.
5. Victor's pursuit of the Creature ends in his own death aboard Walton's ship.
6. The Creature's expression of remorse and final disappearance into the Arctic darkness.

• Themes in Frankenstein

1. Ambition and Hubris: Victor’s desire to emulate God leads to his downfall.
2. Isolation and Rejection: Both Victor and the monster suffer from loneliness and societal rejection.
3. Nature vs. Science: The novel critiques the limits of scientific ambition and the consequences of playing God.
4. Biblical Allusions: References to Paradise Lost and the story of Prometheus highlight themes of creation, rebellion, and punishment.

• Literary Significance & Style

1. Gothic & Romantic Fusion: Combines Gothic elements (atmosphere, terror, the sublime) with Romantic preoccupations (individual emotion, nature's power, societal critique).
2. Proto-Science Fiction: Widely regarded as a foundational text of the science fiction genre, exploring the consequences of technological innovation.
3. Psychological Realism: Grounds its fantastical premise in deeply rendered human emotions and credible societal reactions, exploring identity, communication, and the search for belonging.
4. Tragic Arc: Follows a classical trajectory where Victor's fatal flaw (hubris) leads inexorably to personal and familial ruin.

Did You Know?

1. Author Controversy: Mary Shelley, not Percy Shelley, wrote Frankenstein.
2. Anonymous Publication: The first edition did not credit Shelley due to her age and gender.
3. Monster’s Name: The creature is never named; “Frankenstein” refers to the scientist.
4. Literary Contest: The novel originated from a ghost story competition among Shelley, Byron, and Polidori.
5. Tragic Fates: All participants in the contest faced tragic deaths, adding a layer of real-life gothic irony.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a timeless exploration of human ambition, the ethical limits of science, and the consequences of isolation. Its themes and characters continue to resonate, making it a seminal work in both Gothic and science fiction literature.