Introduction
One of the well-known authors from her era was Mary Shelley. Mary was the daughter of famous feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and was married to another well-known author, Percy Shelley. After Lord Bryon confronts Mary Shelley during a crucial time known as the romantic era, she is inspired to write the story Frankenstein in 1818. In various parts of the globe, including France, the romantic era followed the age of revolution and the age of enlightenment. (Burkett 579). The tale serves as a metaphor for the dynamism of the world during the romantic era as a result of earlier revolutions. Some of the themes touched in Frankenstein include the theme of nature, free will, knowledge, and science. The novel narrates the story of a monster created by Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who can be described as overly curious. Victor becomes afraid of his creation, hence, abandons it due to fear. The actions by Victor represent thirst for knowledge which led to revolutionary changes that occurred in 17th and 18th century. Mary Shelley’s work, Frankenstein, is as a result of happenings during revolutions in Europe, hence, is a greater picture of how different periods influenced the world.
The Enlightenment Period
A different thinking and questioning of everything in life were developed during the Enlightenment period in Europe as people began thinking from different angles. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley features themes like liberty, optimism, and progress which were some of the fundamental pillars in support of Enlightenment movement. Most writers in the period of Enlightenment recommended adoption of new ways of living while abandoning the old ones. Wollstonecraft, who was the mother to Mary Shelley, was among the first feminists to voice their ideas during the Enlightenment. Mary Shelley uses his book, Frankenstein, to express her ideas about Enlightenment. Shelley uses Victor in Frankenstein to advise people to proceed with moderation in changes brought about by the Age of Reason (Cornillon et al. 23). Victor tries something unique which had never been accomplished by any scientist before him. “So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein-more, far more, will I achieve; trading the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (Shelley, 111). Victor’s eagerness to develop a new way of how things are done finally leads him to create a monster which he later deserts as fear overwhelms him after seeing the monster he created.
The Pursuit of Knowledge
The pursuit of knowledge is one of the key elements to the Enlightenment. Mary Shelley substantially applies search for knowledge as one of the major themes in Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein demonstrates curiosity and needs to study in pursuit of more knowledge. Dr. Frankenstein uses his knowledge to create a monster which he later abandons as a result of fear (Bloom 30). Through this, Mary Shelley demonstrates the dangers which come along with misuse of knowledge. Before the period of writing Frankenstein, scientific revolution had just taken place. The period of scientific revolution was characterized by the fact that people began to question their spiritual beliefs and developed their thoughts based on scientific understanding. Before scientific revolution, people practiced Alchemy, which was a mixture of scientific and spiritual beliefs (Cornillon et al. 36). The practice of Alchemy can be compared with sorcery since the followers of the practices used to try some impossible things, such as turning gold to lead. The Alchemists also had a belief system which composed of a chain that is God-man-animals-insects-plants-rocks and finally minerals (Bloom 35). The beginning of revolution led to people abandoning the alchemy practices as inventors made numerous inventions. The revolution marked the emergence of educational subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, and Biology. The scientific revolution aroused the interest of many people to acquire more knowledge on the world they lived in and how it operated. The monster created by Victor Frankenstein can be said to be a product of scientific revolution. In the book, Mary Shelley significantly focuses on the life of Victor who shows a keen interest in old science and alchemy (Bloom 41). During his time in school, Victor shows a strong interest in Philosophy, Medicine, and Anatomy. Victor’s interest to understand the world is evident in chapter two of the book when he says, “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or, in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world” (Shelley 41). Shelley uses the quote to demonstrate how men had a thirst for knowledge during the period of Enlightenment and the scientific revolution. In chapter three, Victor also shows a thirst for knowledge when he claims that in science, one needs to go even far than the ones who came before him since there is always the possibility of continuity in discovery (Shelley 56).
Criticism of Moral Values and Beliefs
The novel also criticizes the moral values and beliefs people had in the 18th century which were against scientific discovery. The proponents of Enlightenment can support the developments by Frankenstein since his discoveries are a prove of greater thinking in science within humanity. Despite science revolutionizing way of living in the society, it possesses a great danger too. Mary Shelley uses her story, Frankenstein, to remind people not to become so excited about the changes coming up due to the study of science, hence, forgetting their morals (Cornillon et al. 28). Victor Frankenstein uses science to create a human from parts of dead bodies. In doing so, Victor forgets that it is only God who can give life. Victor’s creation turns into a monster, a fact that proves that science and knowledge of men have limitations. During the period of scientific revolution, the scientists failed to acknowledge that there might be limitations as they dug deeper to understand and answer questions about the world. The creature developed by Frankenstein serves as a symbol to scientists after the scientific revolution that they must be vigilant not to make such mistakes during their research.
The Industrial Revolution
Another period touched in the story is the industrial revolution which began in the 18th century and was majorly characterized by a transformation in technology. The revolution began in Britain and was mainly caused by a greater demand by consumers. The revolution was marked by innovations in the field of technology which transformed the manufacturing industry. Before Industrial revolution, manufacturing was done by people in small scale at their homes using simple machines and hand tools. Industrialization led to mass production of goods as it adopted specialized machinery and factories in the process of production. As industrialization resulted in a high volume of production and also good living standards for some people, it also led to poor working and living condition for others. Some revolting groups, such as Luddites, were formed to counter the changes that came along with the industrial revolution. Frankenstein is a story written in 1818 during which it was the middle of the industrial revolution (Brackett 32). Shelley’s Frankenstein can be said to be a warning against the expansion of industrialization. Despite creating a positive influence in manufacturing, industrialization also came along with negative impacts, such as the big gap between the high class and low class, poverty, and child labor. Victor Frankenstein in Shelley’s story acts as the representation of the wealthy class while his creation represents the lower class. The act of Victor abandoning his creation in fear that it might harm him may represent how the wealthy feared the lower revolting class during the industrial revolution (Brackett 35). The Luddites destroyed all new factories during the revolution as they majorly led to them losing their jobs. Industrial revolution leaves the lower class jobless, which makes them take action to defend their rights. Victor gives his creation free will which later make him unable to control it. The monster is aware that it is stronger than the creator himself since it notes that, “you are my creator, but I am your master; - obey!” (Shelley 146). Shelley may have used this story to send a warning to men that they must not become slaves to machines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mary Shelley’s work is a representation of different times. Through the main character, Victor Frankenstein, Shelley describes different periods and how they had an impact on the world and people. Times of Enlightenment, the scientific revolution, and Industrial revolution changed the way of life of individuals. Shelley, while acknowledging the benefits which came along with these periods, uses the monster to warn people not to get carried away with science and technology. Overdependence of science and technology will make a man a slave, Mary Shelley warns.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Facts on File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Guides. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96
Brackett, Virginia. Mary Shelley. Salem Press, 2016. Critical Insights. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96
Burkett, Andrew. "Mediating Monstrosity: Media, Information, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." Studies in Romanticism, no. 4, 2012, p. 579. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96
Cornillon, Claire, et al. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis, and Reading Guide. BrightSummaries.com, 2016. Book Analysis. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein: The Original 1818 'Uncensored' Edition. E-art now, 2013. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96
