Lecture Notes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Introduction to Mary Shelley

• Birth: 1797, London
• Parents:
  • Father: William Godwin, political anarchist and writer
  • Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
• Impact of Parents: Influenced her radical thinking and writing
• Tragic Early Life: Mother died shortly after childbirth, impacting her deeply

Mary Shelley's Early Life

• Elopement: At 16, eloped with 21-year-old Percy Bysshe Shelley, a married man and poet.
• Family Conflict: Father furious, refused to help after they returned to England.
• Personal Loss: Gave birth to a premature daughter in February 1815 who died shortly after.
• Further Losses: Gave birth to a son, William, in January 1816.

The Summer of 1816

• Escape from Conservatism: Mary and Percy Shelley traveled to Europe, visiting Lord Byron.
• Villa Diodati: They stayed with Byron; a wet summer led to indoor creativity.
• Literary Challenge: Byron challenged guests to write a scary story.
• Inspiration for Frankenstein: Sparked by discussions on galvanism and the reanimation of corpses.
• Creation of the Story: Mary had a haunting vision that inspired her to write Frankenstein.

Development of Frankenstein

• Encouragement: Initially a short story, transformed into a novel with Percy's support.
• Publication: Finished manuscript in June 1817; first edition published January 1, 1818.
• Anonymous Author: Initially published anonymously due to societal expectations and fears for her children.

Themes Explored in Frankenstein

Gender Roles

• Regency Feminine Ideal: Characters like Margaret, Caroline, Elizabeth, Justine, Agatha, and Safi represent idealized women, often in distress or dead.
• Lack of Agency: Reflects on women's lack of independence during Shelley's time.

Ambition and Hubris

• Victor Frankenstein's Ambition: Hubris leads to his downfall; creates life from dead body parts, blasphemous act of overreaching.
• Critique of Enlightenment: Shelley's critique of excessive pride and pursuit of personal glory.

Humanity vs. Monstrosity

• The Creature's Journey: Begins as innocent; rejection leads to monstrosity.
• Human Exceptionalism Questioned: Challenges the idea that humanity is superior to other beings.

Revenge and its Consequences

• The Creature's Revenge: Transforms into a Gothic antagonist due to mistreatment, leading to violent outcomes.

Nature and the Sublime

• Romanticism Influence: Valued emotion and nature; contrasts with industrialization.
• Descriptive Imagery: Nature's beauty and terror depicted throughout the novel.

Historical Context

• Industrial Revolution: Major societal changes; critique of mechanized industry and its effects on humanity.
• Allegorical Elements: Frankenstein as a metaphor for industrial monstrosity.

Conclusion

• Summary: Shelley's exploration of gender, ambition, humanity, revenge, and nature reflected her context.
• Legacy: Frankenstein remains a crucial text in understanding these themes.