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Paracelsus And his Influence on Mary

Shelley‟s Frankenstein

By: Cait Gravell



His Life:

Auroleus Phillipus Theostratus Bombastus vonHohenheim, commonly known as Paracelsus,was born in 1493 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.

At the age of 14 he left home and traveledaround Europe, learning much aboutmedicine, astrology, and alchemy along theway. He became an army surgeon, and it issaid that it was during this time that hiswonderful cures began.

Following his time as a surgeon, he went to

Germany where he became a professor ofphysics, medicine and surgery.



His Life Cont…

He soon became known as the “Luther ofPhysics,” because he denounced and burned

the revered works of men like Galen. Paracelsus used unconventional ways of

treating his patients, like utilizing minerals.He successfully treated syphilis by using

mercury. He also disagreed with the practiceof bloodletting and cauterizing wounds withtar to prevent infection.



Paracelsus…

Because of his unconventional methods,and his denouncement of revered works

of medicine, he lost his job. Paracelsus played a large part in

changing medieval thought concerning

medicine and many scientific debates ofhis time were often focused on hisinnovations.



Paracelsus…

It is said that his studies and work laid thefoundation for modern chemical physiology.He believed that the purpose of alchemyshouldn‟t be to produce gold, but to concoctmedications to treat disease.

Paracelsus also believed in the threeprinciples of Arabian alchemists, consisting ofmercury (characterized by fluidity, heaviness,and metallicity), sulfur (characterized by theprinciple of inflammability), and salt(characterized by the principles of solidity and

relative chemical inertness).



Paracelsus…

Paracelsus was the first to attempt to applyscientific principles toward medicine and wasresponsible for bringing alchemy andiatrochemistry together into the precursor ofmodern day pharmacology. Iatrochemistrywas concerned with preparing substances inthe simplest way, developing methods to

insure consistent results, discovering themedical properties of substances, and findingnew substances of medicinal value. He alsoheavily stressed the importance of

experimentation and made it a common



Mary Shelley and Science

It is known that Mary Shelley was aneducated woman who understood and wasaware of much of the science of her day, andof the past. Her husband was known to befascinated with the power of science, andsome attribute this to the fact that hebelieved in the omnipotence of man and was

an Atheist. It is said, however, that MaryShelley found the desire to become greaterthan nature frightening.



Mary Shelley and Science…

Tropp writes, “The dangers accompanyingsuch an attempt at transcendence were madeclear to Mrs. Shelley when she looked at anancient tradition that still survived[alchemy]…The „science‟ of alchemy reducedthe complexities of Nature to a few simpleprinciples and held out hope that man could

use these secrets to gain cosmic power.” Her father‟s book St. Leon dealt with an

alchemist who gained too much power.



Mary Shelley…

Tropp writes, “The medieval alchemistbelieved that one day, in a primitivelaboratory, after repeated purifying, distilling,and refining, he would find the secrets to lifeand be like God…Two of the most famousalchemists, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus,are referred to in Frankenstein. They were

well known to [Percy] Shelley, who poredover their works as a boy; considering thenature of the Shelleys‟ relationship, they weredoubtless familiar to Mary as well.”



In Mary Shelley‟s novel, Victor Frankenstein speaks of hisknowledge of Paracelsus and his discussion with a professor atthe University. He says, “He heard with attention my little

narration concerning my studies, and smiled at the names ofCornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus, but without the contemptthat M. Krempe had exhibited. He said, that „these were menwhose indefatigable zeal modern philosophers were indebted formost of the foundations of their knowledge. They had left tous, as an easier task, to give new names, and arrange inconnected classifications, the facts which they in a great degreehad been the instruments of bringing to light. The labours ofmen of genius, however, erroneously directed, scarcely ever failin ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind” (28).

Paracelsus and Frankenstein



The Alchemist‟s dream…

Frankenstein finds the secret to life andthrough his desire for this power, he createsa creature that is unleashed on a world thatis not prepared. Frankenstein says, “Whathad been the study and desire of the wisestmen since the creation of the world, was nowwithin my grasp…I was like the Arabian who

had been buried with the dead, and found apassage to life aided only by one glimmering,and seemingly ineffectual light” (31).



The Dream Becomes aNightmare

After realizing the mistake he made increating a creature that he could not

control, Frankenstein says, “Learn fromme…how dangerous is the acquirementof knowledge, and how much happierthat man is who believes his native

town to be the world, than he whoaspires to become greater than hisnature will allow” (31).