FrankensteinFrankenstein

Thoughts on Thoughts on FrankensteinFrankenstein

““I first read Frankenstein at the best possible time: I first read Frankenstein at the best possible time: when I was too young to understand it. I had been told by when I was too young to understand it. I had been told by someone. . .. –that someone. . .. –that DraculaDracula and and FrankensteinFrankenstein were the were the greatest of horror stories. greatest of horror stories.

I did not get it. I liked the monster, as all decent boys I did not get it. I liked the monster, as all decent boys must. . . . The monster was a boy as such I wished to be, must. . . . The monster was a boy as such I wished to be, larger and stronger. . . .I did NOT see Mankind in the larger and stronger. . . .I did NOT see Mankind in the Industrial Age, or any of that; it was years beyond me. Most Industrial Age, or any of that; it was years beyond me. Most certainly I did not see Man Learning Things Mankind Is Not certainly I did not see Man Learning Things Mankind Is Not Meant to Know, which I now think was what Mary Shelley Meant to Know, which I now think was what Mary Shelley had principally wanted to show me. had principally wanted to show me.

I saw that is it science that makes the scientist, and I saw that is it science that makes the scientist, and not the other way ‘round—that Victor was far more a not the other way ‘round—that Victor was far more a creature of his monster and his desire to create it than the creature of his monster and his desire to create it than the monster was ever a creature of Victor’s. And I saw that monster was ever a creature of Victor’s. And I saw that science is less scientific than scientists, and saner.”science is less scientific than scientists, and saner.”

Gene Wolfe, Gene Wolfe, The Shadow of the Torturer The Shadow of the Torturer

The Legend. . .The Legend. . . In popular imagination, Frankenstein is an In popular imagination, Frankenstein is an

instantly recognizable myth. instantly recognizable myth. That the myth was created by Mary Shelley That the myth was created by Mary Shelley

in a novel she wrote when she was just in a novel she wrote when she was just eighteen years old is not so well known. eighteen years old is not so well known.

In the introduction to the 1831 edition of In the introduction to the 1831 edition of Frankenstein, Shelley answers the Frankenstein, Shelley answers the question: question:

“ “ How I, then a young girl, came to think of, How I, then a young girl, came to think of, and to dilate upon, so very hideous an and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea?”idea?”

May/June 1816May/June 1816

On a rainy night, she, Percy Shelley, On a rainy night, she, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron spend an evening and Lord Byron spend an evening writing ghost stories. writing ghost stories.

Though at first not the vision we know Though at first not the vision we know today, Shelley gave herself to perfecting today, Shelley gave herself to perfecting the story and discussing her craft and the story and discussing her craft and taking advice from Percy Shelley and taking advice from Percy Shelley and Lord ByronLord Byron See Shelley’s introduction to the 1831 See Shelley’s introduction to the 1831

editionedition

Stimuli for the storyStimuli for the story Mary’s own failure to birth a child that could Mary’s own failure to birth a child that could

survivesurvive Her mother’s death 10 days after Shelley’s Her mother’s death 10 days after Shelley’s

birthbirth The experiments of Dr. Darwin (Charles’ The experiments of Dr. Darwin (Charles’

grandfather)grandfather) Woman’s mythmaking on the subject of birthWoman’s mythmaking on the subject of birth

We’ll discuss this more next weekWe’ll discuss this more next week Female pain: death sits on the woman’s side Female pain: death sits on the woman’s side

of the bed. Lovers risk babies, and babies of the bed. Lovers risk babies, and babies can kill. can kill.

BeginningsBeginnings

Daughter of Mary and William GodwinDaughter of Mary and William Godwin Mary died 10 days after giving birth, Mary died 10 days after giving birth,

leaving an incompetent William to leaving an incompetent William to raise their baby and her daughter, raise their baby and her daughter, Fanny, from a previous relationshipFanny, from a previous relationship

Though both professed to not believe Though both professed to not believe in marriage, they were wed 5 months in marriage, they were wed 5 months before Mary’s birth. She was not before Mary’s birth. She was not premature. premature.

Literary LegacyLiterary Legacy William GodwinWilliam Godwin

Born 1756 into a intensely Calvinist familyBorn 1756 into a intensely Calvinist family Tried his hand at preaching, eventually lost the faithTried his hand at preaching, eventually lost the faith He failed at teaching, turned to writingHe failed at teaching, turned to writing Enquiry Concerning Political JusticeEnquiry Concerning Political Justice made him famous (1793) made him famous (1793)

Laid down the systematic evils of the government, projected a libertarian futureLaid down the systematic evils of the government, projected a libertarian future Poor manager of money; he eventually took another wife who had Poor manager of money; he eventually took another wife who had

children of her own. Mary Shelley was not raised in a loving home, nor a children of her own. Mary Shelley was not raised in a loving home, nor a terrible prosperous oneterrible prosperous one

Believed people were naturally benevolent (like Rousseau) ; government Believed people were naturally benevolent (like Rousseau) ; government is what corrupts humanityis what corrupts humanity

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft Famous for her Famous for her A Vindication of the Rights of WomenA Vindication of the Rights of Women Defended the French Revolution, threatened that it would spread to Defended the French Revolution, threatened that it would spread to

EnglandEngland Attacked the aristocracy that disenfranchised poor workers and womenAttacked the aristocracy that disenfranchised poor workers and women Demanded equal political rights regardless of social class OR genderDemanded equal political rights regardless of social class OR gender Several affairs that ended badly, she attempted suicide a number of times. Several affairs that ended badly, she attempted suicide a number of times. Met Godwin in 1796, Mary Godwin (Shelley) was born the next August. Met Godwin in 1796, Mary Godwin (Shelley) was born the next August.

Personal Life and Personal Life and TragedyTragedy

Never knew her motherNever knew her mother Raised by a stepmother who made a point of Raised by a stepmother who made a point of

showing favoritism to her own childrenshowing favoritism to her own children Sent to Scotland at 15 years of age, ostensibly Sent to Scotland at 15 years of age, ostensibly

because she was suffering from poor healthbecause she was suffering from poor health Returned at 16 years of age, intellectually Returned at 16 years of age, intellectually

awakened, and met Percy Bysshe Shelley, a awakened, and met Percy Bysshe Shelley, a frequent visitor to her father’s house (and frequent visitor to her father’s house (and often lent him large sums of money)often lent him large sums of money)

Soon, she and the already married Shelley fell Soon, she and the already married Shelley fell in lovein love

On July 28, 1814, they ran away together (she On July 28, 1814, they ran away together (she was 16) was 16)

When they returned 6 weeks later, Mary was When they returned 6 weeks later, Mary was pregnant. pregnant.

The baby was born premature and died two The baby was born premature and died two weeks laterweeks later

Two months later, she was pregnant again. Her Two months later, she was pregnant again. Her child, William, was born in January of 1816. child, William, was born in January of 1816.

The couple was beset by money troubles and the The couple was beset by money troubles and the social pressure English gentility reserved for social pressure English gentility reserved for sinful lovers. sinful lovers.

In May of 1816, the Shelley’s went to Geneva to In May of 1816, the Shelley’s went to Geneva to be with Lord Byron and the legend was born. be with Lord Byron and the legend was born.

Troubling IssuesTroubling Issues Mary Shelly, 18 years old, filled with the knowledge that Mary Shelly, 18 years old, filled with the knowledge that

her own birth had killed her mother. her own birth had killed her mother. Added to the uncertainty of her own life as an unmarried Added to the uncertainty of her own life as an unmarried

mothermother She knew Percy had abandoned his own wife and two She knew Percy had abandoned his own wife and two

children. What was her hold on him? But she adored him. children. What was her hold on him? But she adored him. Shelley was often jealous of Lord Byron who took her lover Shelley was often jealous of Lord Byron who took her lover

away for whole days at a time to go sailing. away for whole days at a time to go sailing. Her half-sister, Fanny, who did not know to whom she Her half-sister, Fanny, who did not know to whom she

belonged, having not mother or father, kills herself while belonged, having not mother or father, kills herself while Mary is writing Mary is writing FrankensteinFrankenstein

Several months later, Shelley’s wife, Harriet, also takes Several months later, Shelley’s wife, Harriet, also takes her own life (while pregnant with another man’s child)her own life (while pregnant with another man’s child) Mary and Percy married two weeks later, though neither Mary and Percy married two weeks later, though neither

claimed to believe in marriageclaimed to believe in marriage Social pressure probably instigated the marital unionSocial pressure probably instigated the marital union

April 17, 1817April 17, 1817 Frankenstein was finished while Shelley was pregnant Frankenstein was finished while Shelley was pregnant

with her third child. with her third child. The baby, born in September, died just a few weeks The baby, born in September, died just a few weeks

later. later. On March 11, 1818, the book was published On March 11, 1818, the book was published

anonymously. anonymously. it received some good reviews, though there were harsh it received some good reviews, though there were harsh

critics. critics. When it became known it was written by a woman, one critic When it became known it was written by a woman, one critic

exclaimed: “for a man it was excellent, but for a woman it was exclaimed: “for a man it was excellent, but for a woman it was wonderful.” wonderful.”

Not done with birth and death, her toddler son, Not done with birth and death, her toddler son, William, died the following year just months before William, died the following year just months before she gave both to a son, Percy, the only child who lived she gave both to a son, Percy, the only child who lived to become an adultto become an adult

Percy’s deathPercy’s death Percy, an avid sailor, was lost in a storm at Percy, an avid sailor, was lost in a storm at

sea in 1822. His body washed ashore 10 sea in 1822. His body washed ashore 10 days later. He had never learned to swim. days later. He had never learned to swim.

Little written after Little written after FrankensteinFrankenstein holds much holds much scholarly interest. scholarly interest.

Six months after Percy’s death, she wrote” Six months after Percy’s death, she wrote” Oh, Shelley, dear, lamented, beloved!? Help Oh, Shelley, dear, lamented, beloved!? Help me, raise me, support me; let me not feel me, raise me, support me; let me not feel thus fallen and degraded! My imagination is thus fallen and degraded! My imagination is dead, my genius lost, my energies asleep.” dead, my genius lost, my energies asleep.”

She continued to write, mostly editing the She continued to write, mostly editing the works of Shelley and her father, until her works of Shelley and her father, until her death in 1851. death in 1851.

The ImpactThe Impact ““Frankenstein does not touch us because Frankenstein does not touch us because

Victor Frankenstein is a scientist but Victor Frankenstein is a scientist but because his creation was born ugly; because his creation was born ugly; because Victor abandoned him, because because Victor abandoned him, because the creature’s life is spent in a long, long the creature’s life is spent in a long, long pilgrimage toward his father/mother’s pilgrimage toward his father/mother’s love. The issue is not the scientist’s love. The issue is not the scientist’s laboratory; rather it is the ‘workshop of laboratory; rather it is the ‘workshop of filthy creation’ in which love and birth, and filthy creation’ in which love and birth, and their consequence—death—take place.” –their consequence—death—take place.” –Leonard Wolf, Leonard Wolf, The Essential FrankensteinThe Essential Frankenstein

The Modern PrometheusThe Modern Prometheus The story of Prometheus was particularly The story of Prometheus was particularly

attractive to the Romantic Age ( a movement attractive to the Romantic Age ( a movement stirred by two major events: advancing stirred by two major events: advancing industrialization and the French Revolution)industrialization and the French Revolution)

It saw him (Prometheus) as both Christ’s It saw him (Prometheus) as both Christ’s compassion toward humanity and the tragic compassion toward humanity and the tragic heroism of Satanheroism of Satan

Prometheus was a Titan god who stole fire Prometheus was a Titan god who stole fire from heaven and gave it to humanity. from heaven and gave it to humanity.

Zeus punished him for this act of generosity Zeus punished him for this act of generosity by fixing him to a rock to which an eagle by fixing him to a rock to which an eagle came each day to devour Prometheus’s came each day to devour Prometheus’s liver.liver.

There is a lesser known aspect to the There is a lesser known aspect to the Prometheus myth one in which he is Prometheus myth one in which he is seen as the creator of mankindseen as the creator of mankind

Percy Shelley wrote, of Prometheus, Percy Shelley wrote, of Prometheus, that he was a more “poetical” that he was a more “poetical” character than Satan, and, “as it character than Satan, and, “as it were, the type of highest perfection were, the type of highest perfection of moral and intellectual nature.”of moral and intellectual nature.”

Paradise LostParadise Lost

““Did I request thee, Maker, from my Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mould me man? Did I solicit clay to mould me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to promote me?”thee from darkness to promote me?”

Milton’s poem often serves Mary Milton’s poem often serves Mary Shelley as the lens through which Shelley as the lens through which she sees her own creation. It is she sees her own creation. It is worth noting that Satan, in PL, often worth noting that Satan, in PL, often refers to God as the “Victor.” refers to God as the “Victor.”

StyleStyle

““framed story”—narrative structure; a story framed story”—narrative structure; a story within in a storywithin in a story Robert Walton is the narrator, introduced to the Robert Walton is the narrator, introduced to the

reader through letters to his sister. He comes reader through letters to his sister. He comes across Victor Frankenstein who has been across Victor Frankenstein who has been stranded. Victor relates the story of his life and stranded. Victor relates the story of his life and experiment to Waltonexperiment to Walton

Chapters 11-16 contain the monster’s story as he Chapters 11-16 contain the monster’s story as he relates it to Frankenstein. relates it to Frankenstein.

Story within the monster’s tale: the history of the De Story within the monster’s tale: the history of the De Lacey family, told to the monster, who in turn tells Victor. Lacey family, told to the monster, who in turn tells Victor.

Epistolary novel-collection of lettersEpistolary novel-collection of letters