Frankenstein's Romantic Truth

Surrounded by tragedies, ranging from suicide to the loss of multiple children, Mary Shelley is a superwoman of sorts. Not only did she devote her life to her husband after her death but she also supported her only surviving son. She died of brain cancer but if I'm honest, I'm sure a part of her must have been relieved that she could let go of the misery that followed her life time. Her mother’s influence on her is astounding, as she entertained the ongoing “war” for women’s rights, becoming an asset of encouragement to develop her daughter’s education even past her death and in spite of her father not sending Mary to school. Therefore, Mary Shelley’s ability to write this horror story-line does not come as a surprise to me.

Mary Shelley's spur-of-the-moment idea was inspired by the discovery of electricity and magnetism in the early 19th century. The zeitgeist of this time period is particularly important because the story revolves around a scientist who creates Frankenstein.

Not only were the newfound laws of physics important to her writing, but so was Romanticism - the style of art that emphasized emotions, innovation and imagination. Frankenstein’s story can be brought to life with the complexity that Shelley develops between aspects of the writing style. She was known for critiquing romantic wallowers: Frankenstein was the result of a scientific experiment; his creator indulged his emotions and creative ability to create the monster. But Frankenstein, who we know (so far) to be a scary Halloween character with threatening views and hostility, is implicitly mocked by Romanticism with this sentiment.

I’ve always been drawn to emotional and innovational callings myself, so as we begin our next unit in AP Literature, I’m curious to see more about how Shelley incorporates Romanticism in her writing.