preview

Frankenstein, By Mary Shelley

Better Essays

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a sci-fi novel written during the Romantic Movement in Britain’s early nineteenth century. The movement was stimulated by the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution and in reaction against the emphasis on reason in eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosophy (The Romantic Movement, 2014). Mary Shelley’s husband, Percy Shelley was also a romantic poet during the movement. Shelley’s novel is evidently influenced by her relationship with her husband, which is illustrated through her meticulous descriptions of nature conveying the idea that romance educates the soul. Mary Shelley’s archetypal horror story is considered one of the first sci-fi novels raising issues about the place of man. Shelley stresses her opinion on scientific advancements and the consequences that arise using it as a fundamental base for the narrative. Frankenstein encapsulates the profound theme of man playing the role of God. Shelley manifests this theme through the creator/creation relationship of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein and the monster. Throughout the novel Shelley stimulates the readers mind by raising the controversial statement in relation to scientific development, just because we can… should we?
Dr. Victor Frankenstein is portrayed in the novel as the original ‘mad scientist’; Frankenstein’s life becomes obscured as he is blinded by science and evidently overlooks the consequences that arise from his actions. Frankenstein’s intense devotion to his

Get Access