Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Themes and Summary

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein You Tell Me: What is the Moral of this story?

Images of “Frankenstein” INTERACTIVE TASK: What were your five facts about the image in our Warm Up? 1 2 3

It warns us of human’s relentless search for power Why is it a Classic? It speaks truths It reveals human fears It warns us of human’s relentless search for power

Thesis Influenced by the Romantic Period, the scientific inquiry of her time, and her own life, Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, presents a clear message on the irony and danger in the quest for power.

The Gothic Novel Ever wonder what “Gothic” means? The revolutions in America and France helped developed a culture of fear present in society and represented in Gothic literature-- *fear of imprisonment or entrapment, *fear of torture and personal violation, *fear of evil triumphing over good and chaos over order. Gothic literature gets its name from the Gothic architecture that often makes up its settings.

Scientific Research of the Time In the Victorian period, “[s]cience begins to dominate public discourse, and even, according to some writers, partially displaces religion as a coherent world view. A[n outcome] of scientific dominance is the belief that when science advances, so does human society: science and progress, in other words, go hand in hand. Through most of the Victorian Era . . . science is not so specialized into isolated disciplines that the ordinary, well-educated citizen cannot follow its movements” (Drake).

The Author - Mary Shelley “The desire to acquire knowledge and the intense passion for research and study is evident throughout the novel, Frankenstein and is demonstrated through the three narrators . . . the narrators’ quest for new knowledge and knowledge of origins parallel Mary Shelley's lifelong scholarly pursuit and her interest in her own biological origins due to her birth causing her mother's death” (Woodbridge). < Her Parents: Philosopher William Godwin; Feminist Mary Wollstonecraft Her Husband:> Writer Percy B. Shelley

Timeline of Mary Shelley’s Life Aug. 30, 1797 Mary is born to well-known parents: author and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin. Mary Wollstonecraft dies giving birth to Mary. 1813 Mary meets the young poet Percy B. Shelley, a devotee of her father`s teachings 1816 They go to Geneva, this time spending time with Byron and his friend Polidori 1816 William is born. 1816 In Geneva, Byron suggests they should all write a ghost story. Mary begins writing Frankenstein, the only story of the four that was ever published as a novel. 1816 Percy`s wife drowns herself; Percy and Mary marry in December. 1818 Frankenstein Tragedies after Frankenstein 1819 Mary suffers a nervous breakdown after the death of William. 1819 Percy is born; only child of Mary`s to survive childhood. 1822 Percy Sr. drowns during a sailing trip in the Bay of Spezia. 1822 She has a dangerous miscarriage. 1826 She writes The Last Man, which depicts the end of human civilization. Feb. 1,1851 Mary Shelley dies in London, possibly of a brain tumor. (“About”)

So what is it about? It starts with a ship captain. He is writing to his sister about how he has found a dying man on a tiny iceberg way up north. “We perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on towards the north, at the distance of half a mile; a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge and guided the dogs.”

Creating a monster…

Hate begets hate… “Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.”

Wanting a mate… After its escape, the Creature learns to talk and how to kill. It visits its creator one night with a deal to offer…

Deaths of his loved ones… With its offer refused, the Creature vows to kill everyone who Frankenstein loves. Paranoia Loneliness Longing for Elizabeth Rage against his creation Regret

Shelley’s Purpose As you read the novel, be sure to ask: Given all of these influences on Shelley’s life, why would she write a novel like Frankenstein? Is it more than just a simple ghost story? Have fun analysing!!!!

Works Cited “About Mary Shelley: Timeline.” Cyber Studios Inc. 2005 Drake, Alfred. “Romantic and Victorian Characteristics.” Alfred J Drake. <http://www.ajdrake.com/e212_sum_04/materials/guides/rom_romvic_chara cter.htm> 26 Mar. 2005. Kreis, Steven. “Lecture 16: The Romantic Era.” The History Guide. 2000. <http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture16a.html> 26 Mar. 2005. Ruotolo, Christine. et. al. “The Gothic: Materials for Study.” University of Virginia. <http://www.engl.virginia.edu/enec981/Group/general.intro.html> 5 Mar. 2005. Woodbridge, Kim, A. “The Life of Mary Shelley.” Kim Woodbridge 2001. <http://www.kimwoodbridge.com/maryshel/life.shtml> 26 Mar. 2005