Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

In this post, notes of “Unit 3: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley” from “DSC- 7: Romantic Literature” are given which is helpful for the students doing graduation this year.

Introduction to Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley-Wikimedia Commons

Overview of Mary Shelley’s Life

Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was an English writer, famous for her Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which she published in 1818 at the age of 20.

She was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and was the daughter of the well-known feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin.

Mary faced many hardships in her life, including the early death of her mother and the loss of several of her children. She married the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816 after running away together.

Mary’s early life was influenced by her parents’ ideas and the Romantic poets she met later. After Percy died in 1822, Mary kept writing and promoting his work while also building her own career as a writer, creating novels, short stories, essays, and biographies.

Impact of Shelley’s Personal Experiences on Her Works

Mary Shelley’s personal life greatly affected her writing, especially her themes of loss, grief, and the challenges of creating and taking responsibility.

The tragic loss of her mother shortly after Mary was born gave her a lifelong feeling of loss. Her grief from losing her children and her husband Percy can be seen in her writing, especially in Frankenstein, where themes of isolation, creation, and the results of human actions are important.

The difficulties and tragedies of her early life also influenced her writing as she thought about life, death, and what it means to be human.

Her relationships with Percy and her friends, like Lord Byron and John Polidori, were crucial to her growth as a thinker and writer.

The famous ghost story challenge in 1816, where she came up with the idea for Frankenstein, was directly linked to these relationships and the ideas of her time.

Historical Context: Early 19th Century England

Mary Shelley’s life took place during a time of great change in England. The early 19th century was shaped by the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Industrial Revolution, which all influenced people’s thoughts during this time.

The Romantic movement, which valued individual feelings, nature, and strong emotions, was growing, and many notable figures like Percy Shelley and Lord Byron were part of her circle.

At the same time, new scientific discoveries in biology and chemistry were challenging old ideas about life and death.

This scientific atmosphere influenced the themes in Frankenstein, especially the ideas about bringing things back to life and the responsibilities that come with scientific discoveries.

The Industrial Revolution was also changing society, leading to major economic shifts and more people moving to cities.

These changes created conflicts between old traditions and new ways, which Mary Shelley explored in her writing. Her work reflects the worries of the time about progress and the potential dangers of science and technology.

Mary Shelley’s stories, especially Frankenstein, show the larger worries of her time, including the rise of individualism, the limits of science, and how social and political changes affect personal identity and responsibility.

Frankenstein: An Overview

Summary of the Novel

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is about Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who becomes obsessed with defeating death and creating life.

He builds a creature from body parts and brings it to life, but is horrified by how it looks. The creature, feeling rejected and alone, seeks revenge, leading to tragic events between it and Victor.

The story starts with letters from Robert Walton, an explorer in the Arctic. He writes to his sister about meeting Victor while looking for a way through the North Pole.

As Victor shares his story, Walton writes it down, showing the dark results of Victor’s quest for forbidden knowledge.

The creature, often wrongly called “Frankenstein,” is a key part of the story. Despite being abandoned and treated badly, it wants to learn about human feelings, make friends, and be accepted.

The conflict between Victor and the creature is central to the plot, as Victor’s failure to take responsibility leads to many sad outcomes.

Characters and Their Importance

  • Victor Frankenstein: The main character, Victor is an ambitious scientist whose thirst for knowledge leads to his downfall. He shows the dangers of excessive ambition and the moral issues of scientific discovery.
  • The Creature: A tragic figure who is cast out by society and Victor. The creature is not evil but becomes violent due to rejection and mistreatment. It represents themes of loneliness, the need for companionship, and the effects of neglect. The story questions whether behavior is shaped by nature or upbringing.
  • Robert Walton: The Arctic explorer who tells the story. He shares Victor’s desire for knowledge but learns from Victor’s mistakes about the risks of pursuing goals without thinking of the consequences.
  • Elizabeth Lavenza: Victor’s fiancée, representing innocence and the traditional home life. Her character contrasts with Victor’s dangerous quest for knowledge and highlights the importance of family connections.
  • Henry Clerval: Victor’s best friend, who is kind and idealistic. His differences from Victor show a more balanced way of life. His tragic end shows how Victor’s actions affect those around him.

Themes and Ideas

  • The Dangers of Excessive Ambition: Victor’s obsession with knowledge leads to his ruin. The novel warns against the belief that science can solve all problems without considering the risks.
  • Creation and Responsibility: Victor’s failure to care for his creature raises questions about who is responsible for those we create, whether in real life or metaphorically.
  • Loneliness and Isolation: Both Victor and the creature feel very alone. Victor’s obsession cuts him off from loved ones, while the creature is shunned for its looks. This theme shows how isolation can lead to pain and destructive actions.
  • Nature vs. Nurture: The story looks at whether the creature’s violent behavior is due to its nature or how it is treated. It raises questions about how surroundings and upbringing affect actions.
  • Limits of Science and Knowledge: Victor’s quest shows the dangers of pushing scientific boundaries. The novel critiques overstepping moral limits in the search for knowledge and power.

Frankenstein: Literary Importance

Gothic Features in Frankenstein

Frankenstein includes many features typical of the Gothic genre, popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Key Gothic elements in the novel include:

  • Atmosphere of Mystery and Fear: The story has dark settings, from Victor’s lab to the lonely Arctic. These places create a feeling of dread and tension.
  • Supernatural and Unnatural: The main event—the creature coming to life—is an unnatural act that goes against life and death rules. It explores the idea of humans trying to be like God, a common Gothic theme.
  • Psychological Horror: Much of the fear comes from the mental struggles of Victor and the creature. Victor’s obsession drives him to madness, while the creature’s growing anger and loneliness are equally alarming.
  • The Byronic Hero: Victor can be seen as a Byronic hero—someone driven by strong emotions, often lonely and suffering from their own pride. This is a common trait of Gothic characters.

Frankenstein as a Gothic Novel

Frankenstein is often called a Gothic novel because it follows many genre conventions. It explores the dark side of human nature, focusing on obsession, the fallout from over-ambition, and the fear that arises from unnatural acts. The gloomy settings and themes of psychological pain add to its Gothic nature, making it a key example of the genre.

Frankenstein as a Science Fiction Novel

Besides being Gothic, Frankenstein is one of the first science fiction novels. It addresses themes that would later be important in science fiction, especially the dangers of scientific experiments and the effects of creating life. Victor’s work raises serious ethical questions about scientific limits, the role of scientists, and the risks of new technology. These issues are still relevant in modern science fiction, establishing Frankenstein as a foundational work in the genre.

The novel also introduces the idea of the “mad scientist“—someone who pushes scientific knowledge without considering the moral costs. It explores the tension between progress and potential destruction, a theme that continues in later science fiction.

Overall, Frankenstein stands out as a blend of Gothic literature and science fiction, making it a key work for discussions about technology, ethics, and what it means to be human.

Major Themes in Frankenstein

Creation and Responsibility

A main idea in Frankenstein is the responsibility that comes with creating life. Victor Frankenstein, driven by his desire for knowledge, brings a creature to life from dead parts. However, he abandons it and does not care for it. This lack of responsibility leads to tragedy, as the creature feels lonely and angry. This theme asks important questions about what a creator owes to their creation, whether in family, science, or parenting. Victor’s choice to ignore his creation causes many problems in the story.

Isolation and Companionship

Isolation is a common theme in Frankenstein, affecting both Victor and the creature. Victor isolates himself in his quest for knowledge, pushing away his family and friends, which harms his health and emotions. The creature is also isolated because people reject him for his strange looks. His loneliness and desire for friendship make him angry and vengeful.

The theme of isolation is balanced by the need for companionship, especially seen in the creature’s wish for acceptance. He tries to connect with a family but is turned away, highlighting the pain of being alone. In the end, both Victor and the creature suffer because they cannot form meaningful relationships, showing how important love and connection are.

Nature vs. Nurture

The story looks at whether a person’s character is shaped by nature (innate traits) or nurture (environment). The creature starts off innocent and kind but becomes violent due to rejection and cruelty from others. This suggests that surroundings greatly influence behavior. Victor’s neglect and society’s harshness raise questions about how outside factors shape a person’s identity and morals.

By showing the creature as not being evil by nature but shaped by how he is treated, Mary Shelley encourages readers to think about how people are affected by their environment and if their fate is decided by nature or nurture.

Ambition and Consequences

The theme of ambition and its results is central to the story, especially in Victor Frankenstein’s strong desire to create life. His ambition makes him ignore the moral aspects of his work, leading to disastrous results, including the deaths of loved ones and his own mental decline.

Victor’s unchecked ambition reflects a warning against overthinking and the idea that the desire for scientific achievement should be balanced with moral awareness and kindness. The creature’s need for revenge and his thoughts on Victor’s actions highlight the dangers of ambition without responsibility.


Narrative Structure and Style

Epistolary Narrative

Frankenstein is told through letters, starting with Robert Walton, an explorer, writing to his sister. Walton’s letters introduce Victor Frankenstein, who shares his story with Walton while they are stuck in the Arctic. This letter format creates a sense of distance and different viewpoints, making the story feel like it is being told through various perspectives.

This structure also creates a feeling of closeness, as if the reader is looking into private letters. It ties into the themes of isolation and communication, as characters often face physical and emotional distances, yet their stories connect through these letters.

Use of Multiple Perspectives

The novel uses different viewpoints, mainly through Walton, Victor, and the creature. This method helps Mary Shelley show the complexity of the characters and provides a deeper understanding of themes like creation, responsibility, and consequences.

Victor’s story, shared with Walton, is filled with guilt and sadness, making him seem tragic. On the other hand, the creature’s story makes him relatable, despite his violent actions. Walton’s outside perspective adds objectivity and reflects Victor’s story, emphasizing the lessons of the novel.

This approach lets the reader see the moral complexity of the characters, blurring the lines between good and evil, and highlighting that each character’s experience is shaped by their views and feelings.

Language and Imagery

Mary Shelley uses poetic and descriptive language in Frankenstein, creating a dark and eerie atmosphere. The imagery sets the mood, contrasting beautiful scenes with horrifying ones, like Victor’s experiences in nature versus his monstrous creation.

Shelley uses strong emotional language to show the inner struggles of her characters. Victor’s guilt and obsession come through intense language, while the creature’s sadness and desire for connection are expressed with heartfelt words. The language changes depending on who is speaking, making their feelings real and immediate.

Imagery of light and darkness is common, often representing knowledge and ignorance, life and death. This contrast highlights the story’s exploration of the results of seeking knowledge without considering the consequences.

Overall, the language and imagery enhance the emotional depth of the story and contribute to the haunting atmosphere that makes Frankenstein a Gothic and tragic work.

Critical Interpretations

Feminist Readings of Frankenstein

Feminist views of Frankenstein often look at how women are treated and the male-centered themes in the story. Female characters like Elizabeth, Justine, and Caroline mostly play passive roles and their fates depend on the men. Elizabeth, who is Victor’s fiancée, is seen as a perfect example of traditional femininity and innocence. On the other hand, Victor’s obsession with knowledge and creating life shows masculine pride that ignores women’s nurturing roles.

Feminist critics believe Mary Shelley is criticizing the male-dominated world of science through Victor’s refusal to accept responsibility for his creation. His rejection of the creature symbolizes his rejection of the caring qualities usually associated with women. This perspective also shows how Victor’s drive to create life disrupts natural reproduction and highlights the issues of a society that values male ambition over women’s roles.

Psychoanalytic Perspectives

Psychoanalytic views of Frankenstein focus on the hidden motives of the characters, especially Victor Frankenstein. Sigmund Freud’s ideas about the mind can be applied to the novel. Some critics think Victor’s creation of the monster reveals his hidden desires and fears, showing his urge to control life and death. The creature, with his strange appearance, represents Victor’s hidden worries about himself.

The creature’s desire for acceptance and love reflects the human need for connection and self-worth. His feelings of being alone and frustrated show the experience of alienation, making Frankenstein a study of inner conflict. The emotional turmoil in the story, caused by Victor’s refusal to take responsibility and the creature’s quest for revenge, represents a struggle between the conscious and unconscious mind, leading to tragic outcomes.

Ethical and Moral Questions

Frankenstein raises significant ethical and moral questions about science, responsibility, and knowledge limits. A key ethical issue in the novel is Victor’s creation of life without thinking about the moral consequences. By abandoning his creation, Victor avoids responsibility, leading to violence and tragedy. This disregard critiques unchecked ambition in science and the risks of seeking knowledge without considering its effects on humanity.

The novel questions whether humans should control life and death through science. Victor’s arrogance in creating the creature serves as a warning about crossing moral boundaries in the quest for knowledge. The creature’s struggle to understand his existence and his desire for revenge also brings up further ethical concerns about justice, responsibility, and how we treat others.


Frankenstein and Its Adaptations

Film and Stage Adaptations

Since it was published, Frankenstein has inspired many films, stage plays, and TV shows, with James Whale’s 1931 film Frankenstein, featuring Boris Karloff as the creature, being the most famous. This film shaped how many people view the Frankenstein monster as a large, silent, and misunderstood being.

Other film adaptations have changed parts of Shelley’s story, focusing on different aspects or changing characters. Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 film Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is closer to the original story and delves into Victor’s character and the ethical issues of the creature’s creation. The play has also been adapted many times, including a notable 2011 production by the National Theatre in London, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating roles as Victor and the creature.

Each adaptation shows different cultural views and interpretations of the story, often highlighting themes like the dangers of unchecked scientific progress and the consequences of pride. These adaptations demonstrate how Frankenstein continues to be relevant across various media.

Modern Retellings and Influences

Frankenstein has influenced many modern retellings in books, films, and TV shows. Works like The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as recent films like Ex Machina and Blade Runner, explore themes of creation and the ethical issues of scientific experiments. Modern retellings often show the creature in a more sympathetic light or question the role of science in society.

In literature, Frankenstein has inspired stories that challenge ideas about humanity and identity, as well as the risks of playing God. It continues to inspire writers who look at the intersection of science, technology, and morality.

Frankenstein in Popular Culture

The story of Frankenstein has made a lasting mark on popular culture, influencing everything from Halloween costumes to parodies. The image of the monster, with his flat head, neck bolts, and green skin, is widely recognized, even though it differs from Shelley’s original description. The term “Frankenstein’s monster” is often used to describe a misunderstood creature, even though the character’s name in the book is not Frankenstein.

Frankenstein has also inspired many references in music, art, and video games, remaining a key topic for discussions on science, ethics, and creation. It symbolizes the risks of unchecked ambition and the ethical dilemmas faced by creators, making it a significant part of modern culture.


Conclusion

Relevance of Frankenstein Today

Frankenstein is still very relevant today. As technology and science keep advancing—like in artificial intelligence and genetic engineering—the ethical questions from Shelley’s novel become even more important. The story explores the results of scientific experimentation and the responsibilities of creators, making it a timely discussion. In a time when the pursuit of knowledge often ignores ethical considerations, Frankenstein serves as a warning about forgetting humanity and moral duty in the name of progress.

Additionally, the themes of isolation, identity, and the need to belong continue to resonate with people today, especially in a world where social disconnection and questions about what it means to be human are common.

Shelley’s Legacy in Literature

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has had a deep and lasting impact on literature, particularly in Gothic fiction and science fiction. By exploring the consequences of unchecked ambition and the ethical complexities of creation, Shelley introduced themes and ideas that later writers would revisit and expand. The novel laid the groundwork for modern horror, psychological fiction, and speculative literature, remaining a foundational work in both literature and popular culture.

Shelley’s legacy as a groundbreaking author, especially in blending Romantic ideas with Gothic horror, ensures that Frankenstein will continue to be an important work, inviting new readers and scholars to engage with its rich themes and timeless questions.


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