Author: Mary Shelley
Year of Publication: 1819
Genre: Gothicism, Science Fiction
Setting: France
Themes: Abandonment ("Sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him. "(15.11)), Birth and Creation ("Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. `Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. `Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?" (15.8))
About Mary Shelley:
Summary:
A sailor out at sea come across a scientist named Frankenstein looking for his lost creation. However his creation isn't ordinary. It is a monster he has pieced together out of the body parts of dead people. The scientist tells the sailor about how the horrible creature comes to life one day and frightens the scientist so much that he runs away, abandoning his creature. The monster flees his house and goes to the mountains to live in a shed. While living in the shed, he develops a love for the owners of the property. But there is one problem: the owners don't even know he exists. In a desperate attempt to feel loved and accepted, he introduces himself to the blind owner in hopes that the man will develop an opinion on him based on his personality and not on his terrifying appearance. However, while introducing himself to the man, his family gets home and sees the horrible monster standing over their father. They panic and try to kill him.
Year of Publication: 1819
Genre: Gothicism, Science Fiction
Setting: France
Themes: Abandonment ("Sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him. "(15.11)), Birth and Creation ("Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. `Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. `Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?" (15.8))
About Mary Shelley:
- Lived 1797-1851
- Her father was politically radical and her mother was a feminist who didn't believe that marriage was right. Her mom died shortly after her birth, and her father would become estranged later on in her life
- Due to her upbringing, Mary took on radical beliefs of her own.
- Mary was self-taught
- In 1814, at the age of 17, Mary ran away with a married man named Percy Shelley. They eventually got married after the death of his wife. They decided to have an open and unrestrictive marriage. The marriage was short lived, and Mary became a widow at the age of 24, just seven years after running away with Percy.
- Her writing is inspired by the ghost stories her and her friends used to tell.
- Shelley died at 53 of brain cancer
Summary:
A sailor out at sea come across a scientist named Frankenstein looking for his lost creation. However his creation isn't ordinary. It is a monster he has pieced together out of the body parts of dead people. The scientist tells the sailor about how the horrible creature comes to life one day and frightens the scientist so much that he runs away, abandoning his creature. The monster flees his house and goes to the mountains to live in a shed. While living in the shed, he develops a love for the owners of the property. But there is one problem: the owners don't even know he exists. In a desperate attempt to feel loved and accepted, he introduces himself to the blind owner in hopes that the man will develop an opinion on him based on his personality and not on his terrifying appearance. However, while introducing himself to the man, his family gets home and sees the horrible monster standing over their father. They panic and try to kill him.
Broken and angry, the monster flees the property and again finds himself aching with the pains of abandonment. But this time, he no longer is seeking affection and acceptance. He is seeking revenge. This begins his terrifying path to Frankenstein, killing everyone who wrongs him. He finally finds the scientist and demands that he make him a mate lest he kill everyone he cares about. The rest of the book describes the tormented thoughts of Frankenstein while trying to decide whether or not to create a mate for the monster...