FrankensteinFrankenstein BackgroundBackground

The Gothic NovelThe Gothic Novel

Age of ReasonAge of Reason

Movement in 18Movement in 18thth century century – Stressed the power of the human mindStressed the power of the human mind– Belief that mankind was perfectBelief that mankind was perfect

Writing stressed the dark side of Writing stressed the dark side of human advancementhuman advancement– Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Forced people into long, grueling hours of Forced people into long, grueling hours of laborlabor

– Mankind as imperfect and at the mercy Mankind as imperfect and at the mercy of other powerful forces (nature and of other powerful forces (nature and death)death)

The Gothic NovelThe Gothic NovelMost famous exampleMost famous example == Frankenstein Frankenstein

Popular literary genre (1764-1820)Popular literary genre (1764-1820) Emphasized mystery and horrorEmphasized mystery and horror

– almost always contained dark forests, almost always contained dark forests, castles, the supernatural, trap doors, castles, the supernatural, trap doors, secret rooms, etc.secret rooms, etc.

The Gothic novel slowly gave way to The Gothic novel slowly gave way to RomanticismRomanticism– the novel combines Gothic and the novel combines Gothic and

Romantic views with emphasis of the Romantic views with emphasis of the “sublime” power of nature. “sublime” power of nature.

Making and Message of Making and Message of FrankensteinFrankenstein

June 1816 – Ghost story challengeJune 1816 – Ghost story challenge– Mary Shelly, her husband, and othersMary Shelly, her husband, and others– Came to her in a dreamCame to her in a dream

Showcases people’s fears of scientific Showcases people’s fears of scientific advancementadvancement– Science is not condemned, but the abuse and Science is not condemned, but the abuse and

misusemisuse Serves as a reflection and a warningServes as a reflection and a warning

– Warning = proceed with caution while Warning = proceed with caution while discovering and creatingdiscovering and creating

Other InfluenceOther Influence John Milton’s John Milton’s Paradise LostParadise Lost

– epic poem that traces humankind’s fall epic poem that traces humankind’s fall from gracefrom grace

– The epigraph of The epigraph of FrankensteinFrankenstein is a is a quotation from quotation from Paradise LostParadise Lost, in which , in which Adam curses God for creating him, just Adam curses God for creating him, just as the monster curses Victor as the monster curses Victor Frankenstein, his creator.Frankenstein, his creator.

AlchemyAlchemy Mystical philosophy combining astrology, Mystical philosophy combining astrology,

numerology, and theology into the study of numerology, and theology into the study of matter matter

Concerned with the production of gold Concerned with the production of gold – Transformation of base metals (especially lead)Transformation of base metals (especially lead)– Perfect combination of earth, fire, air, and water, plus Perfect combination of earth, fire, air, and water, plus

the balance of male and female partsthe balance of male and female parts Creating the elixir of life or the philosopher’s Creating the elixir of life or the philosopher’s

stonestone Alchemists discovered gunpowder and basic Alchemists discovered gunpowder and basic

techniques of metallurgy and pharmacology techniques of metallurgy and pharmacology Later related to chemistry and witchcraftLater related to chemistry and witchcraft

Alchemy in Alchemy in FrankensteinFrankenstein Victor Frankenstein lists several Victor Frankenstein lists several

alchemists among his childhood reading alchemists among his childhood reading material material – Cornelius AgrippaCornelius Agrippa– ParacelsusParacelsus– Albertus MagnusAlbertus Magnus

Victor's father and Professor Krempe Victor's father and Professor Krempe dismiss these alchemists while praising dismiss these alchemists while praising modern chemistsmodern chemists– demonstrates distance between mystics and demonstrates distance between mystics and

the modern experimental chemistrythe modern experimental chemistry

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

What is it about science that is What is it about science that is terrifying enough to merit a terrifying enough to merit a cautionary tale about obsessively cautionary tale about obsessively pushing the boundaries?pushing the boundaries?

Make a Creation!Make a Creation!– If you could invent anything, what would If you could invent anything, what would

it be? Why would you invent this and it be? Why would you invent this and explain both how it would be looked at explain both how it would be looked at positively and negatively in society.positively and negatively in society.

Mary Mary Wollstonecraft Wollstonecraft

ShelleyShelley

1797-18511797-1851

Early YearsEarly Years Born August 30, 1797 in London, EnglandBorn August 30, 1797 in London, England

– Mother Mother Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft

– Early feminist and authorEarly feminist and author– Died 10 days after daughter’s birthDied 10 days after daughter’s birth

– Father Father William GodwinWilliam Godwin

– Political writer and novelistPolitical writer and novelist

– Eldest Sister Eldest Sister Fanny GodwinFanny Godwin

– Union between mother and her American loverUnion between mother and her American lover

– Future step-mother and step-siblings Future step-mother and step-siblings Neighbor Mary Jane Clairmont with her childrenNeighbor Mary Jane Clairmont with her children

EducationEducation Males and females should receive equal educationMales and females should receive equal education Instructed at home and through Godwin’s Instructed at home and through Godwin’s

intellectual circle of friendsintellectual circle of friends– These figures had a great impact on These figures had a great impact on FrankensteinFrankenstein

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Poet and philosopherPoet and philosopher

William Nicholson and Humphry DavyWilliam Nicholson and Humphry Davy– ScientistsScientists– Foremost experimenters with galvanic electricityForemost experimenters with galvanic electricity

– OtherOther William HazlittWilliam Hazlitt

– criticcritic Charles LambCharles Lamb

– essayistessayist Percy Bythe ShelleyPercy Bythe Shelley

– poetpoet

Life with ShelleyLife with Shelley Shelley (22) frequented the Godwin household and met Shelley (22) frequented the Godwin household and met

Mary (14) Mary (14) – He was married and his wife was pregnant with their second He was married and his wife was pregnant with their second

childchild Ran away together to Europe two years laterRan away together to Europe two years later Two children born out of wed-lockTwo children born out of wed-lock

Daughter -February of 1815Daughter -February of 1815– Died a few days after birthDied a few days after birth

Son William- January of 1816Son William- January of 1816 Married December 30, 1816Married December 30, 1816 Daughter Clara born – 1817Daughter Clara born – 1817

– only lived for a yearonly lived for a year Son William died at three in 1819Son William died at three in 1819

– Mary had a breakdown and became depressedMary had a breakdown and became depressed Son Percy born – 1819Son Percy born – 1819

– Only child who survived beyond childhoodOnly child who survived beyond childhood

Life With Shelley cont.Life With Shelley cont.

Most of public looked down on them Most of public looked down on them because of their lifestylebecause of their lifestyle– Started off poor, but Shelley earned a Started off poor, but Shelley earned a

living after two yearliving after two year– Shelley remained unfaithfulShelley remained unfaithful

Formed their own circle of friendsFormed their own circle of friends– Most notably Lord Byron Most notably Lord Byron

famous poetfamous poet

FrankensteinFrankenstein

Written in 1816 when she was 19Written in 1816 when she was 19– Lord Byron’s home on the shores of Lake Lord Byron’s home on the shores of Lake

GenevaGeneva Impregnated her sister and they were hiding out Impregnated her sister and they were hiding out

there until the baby was bornthere until the baby was born

– Challenged to write ghost stories to appease Challenged to write ghost stories to appease boredomboredom

Published in 1818 when she was 21Published in 1818 when she was 21– Anonymously at firstAnonymously at first– Once she came forward, readers disbelieved Once she came forward, readers disbelieved

that she wrote it because it was a horrorthat she wrote it because it was a horror

Life After PercyLife After Percy 1822 = Left for Italy and Percy Shelley 1822 = Left for Italy and Percy Shelley

drowned drowned 1823 = Shelley and son return to England1823 = Shelley and son return to England

– She was 25 and vowed never to re-marry She was 25 and vowed never to re-marry Produced five more novelsProduced five more novels

– Began writing short fiction once realism gained Began writing short fiction once realism gained popularitypopularity

Charles DickensCharles Dickens Died in England on February 1, 1851 at 54 Died in England on February 1, 1851 at 54

years oldyears old Son Percy received title of Sir Percy Son Percy received title of Sir Percy

Shelley in 1844.Shelley in 1844.

DiscussionDiscussion THEMESTHEMES

beauty beauty revengerevenge pursuit of knowledgepursuit of knowledge ambitionambition science science conflict with parent and childconflict with parent and child friendshipfriendship nature nature

Reflect on your experiences with these themes and to jot Reflect on your experiences with these themes and to jot down some ideas about each (your life or in current down some ideas about each (your life or in current events).events).

Then decide if the theme is good, bad, or a combination of Then decide if the theme is good, bad, or a combination of both.both.

DiscussDiscuss