FRANKENSTEIN; THE MODERN PROMETHEUS An Introduction 1 MARY SHELLEY Born to radicals Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer, A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) which drew attention to womens second class status William Godwin, ex-minister, atheist, influential writer (politics, morality); name became associated with truth, justice and liberty Both influence by French Revolution Both anti-marriage, but did wed when Mary became pregnant Mother died of septicemia (blood poisoning) after Marys birth Father remarried Emotionally void, but intellectually guided 2 MARY & PERCY SHELLEY Met in 1814 Shelley, Romantic, attached self to Godwin and his idealistic political notions Shelley abandons wife to spend time at Godwin house Eloped in July Mary gives birth to 1 st baby, but baby dies a few days after birth Dream that my little baby came to life again: that it had only been cold, and that we rubbed it before the fire and it lived. 3 MARY & SHELLEY IN GENEVA Opposite of gloomy London, yet rained much in summer to confine to house Ghost story contest Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and others Discussion of Erasmus Darwins experiments with galvanism (uses of electricity) Dreamed about monster coming to life 4 HISTORICAL CONTEXT The French Revolution and the Rise of Industrialism Early Romantic writers strongly advocated the French Revolution Revolution signaled throwing off of old traditions and customs of the wealthy classes Balance of economic power shifted toward the middle class with the rise of industrialism. Advanced machinery and technology threatened to replace workers England's literary thinkers welcomed revolution because it represented an opportunity to establish a harmonious social structure. 5 HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CONT Napoleon crowned emperor in England now at war against France After the war ended in 1815, the English focused on economic and social problems England didnt regulate the economic shift from a farming-based society to an industrialized society stemmed from a hands-off philosophy of non- governmental interference leading to extremely low wages and terrible working conditions for employees who were prevented by law from unionizing. 6 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Technology/machines replaced workers creating low wages and poor working conditions People encouraged to sabotage machines that took jobs away from workers. Erasmus Darwin, scientist who wrote about biological evolution big influence (people began to question power of God) grandfather of Charles Darwin Percy and Mary also attended lecture by Andrew Crosse, scientist whose experiments with electricity discussed galvanism, or the study of electricity and its applications. 7 ARCTIC EXPLORATION The late 1700s also marked the beginnings of a new era of ocean exploration. England's Royal Academy, which promoted the first voyage to the South seas, appealed to scientists and travelers alike. Explorers wanted to find a trade route through the Arctic to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific. 8 ROMANTIC WRITERS Began in 18 th century Promote unique individual imagination and expression Nature, spirituality and humankind interrelated Publication of Wordsworths and Coleridges Lyrical Ballads the beginning 9 CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMANTICS Emphasis on intuition and emotion rejected rational and intellectual (didactic for sermons); emotions for art Emphasized strange an bizarre common has no place in art Choose subject not encountered in everyday life Not always interested in creating viable/ believable characters 10 CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMANTICS Setting usually obscure, remote or unknown place (or foreign country) Rugged, natural settings provide comfort and visual appeal Creation of new/different worlds so readers concentrate on themes and ideas Close relationship and concern for poor and less fortunate Searched for fundamental knowledge and consequences of acquiring knowledge Humans born inherently kindhearted and moral 11 GOTHIC STYLE Supernatural forces Imaginative excess Delusions Religious and human evil Social transgressions Mental disintegration Spiritual corruption 12 GOTHIC STYLE STOCK FEATURES torturous, fragmented narrative horrible images and life- threatening chases spectres monsters demons corpses skeletons evil aristocrats monks nuns fainting heroines bandits scientists criminals madmen monstrous doubles (dopplegangers) signifying evil and duplicity wild landscapes 13 REACTION TO GOTHIC STYLE Perceived as subversive Promotes violence and vice, celebrates criminal behavior Texts give free reign to selfish ambitions and desires beyond law and family duty 14 GOTHIC MOTIFS images of light and dark duality of selves (alter ego) conflicts between reason and passion supernatural and natural past and present sacred and profane 15 LITERARY TERM FRAME STORY Narrative technique Main story sets the stage for internal story or smaller narratives Within Frankenstein, Robert Waltons letters to sister set the stage for Victor Frankensteins tale 16 THEME AND TOPICS Alienation and Loneliness Nature vs. Nurture Appearance vs. Reality Duty and Responsibility Justice and Injustice 17 SOURCESMary Shelleys Frankenstein, Cliffs Notes Robinson, Robbie. Lecture Notes Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc. 1818,