Context In Frankenstein Essay, Research Paper
What influences of context are there to be found in Mary Shelley´s ‘Frankenstein´?
How does an understanding of these context help to shape your response to the text?
Discuss with reference to the three key different aspects of context.
The context of a novel is the circumstances in which it was written. The three
most important areas of context in literary terms are cultural, biographical, and
political contexts. The context of a novel provides clarification of meaning aswell as
giving a deeper understanding of why a particular text was written in a particular way,
by a particular author at a particular time. These three areas are evident in
‘Frankenstein´, however it is important to note that different contexts have relative
importance, both in terms of the type of context and how much emphasis it is given in
relation to key themes as well as the importance of a context as perceived by
contemporary societies. Both the context in which ‘Frankenstein´ was written and the
novel itself help to formulate a fair and balanced response to the text. The biographical context of ‘Frankenstein´ is key in order to understand the
themes in the book. It is important to point out however, that in analysing the text one
must avoid analysing the creator as opposed to the created. In literary analysis, the
main aim is to understand the work better, not the person who wrote it. Mary Shelley
was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, a prominant feminist, and William Godwin,
a radical philosopher and novelist. Both her parents were noted freethinkers, and
objected to institution. This is evident in the text, for example, when the magistrate
presumes Frankenstein guilty of Henry´s murder, questioning the justice system. Mary
W died soon after giving birth and so Mary S was educated in the intellectual circles of
her father´s contemporaries. The death of the key women in the plot (Elizabeth,
Caroline, Justine) aswell as the imbalance caused by having no feminine influence while
Frankenstein made the monster, could be a projection of the lack of a dominant
feminine in Shelley´s own upbringing, aswell as relaying some of her mother´s own
feminist views. These feminist undertones are apparent when Frankenstein destroys the
female monster, symbolising male domination, and also when the monster finds a
portrait of Caroline, “a most lovely woman”, highlighting his need for a maternal
influence.
Mary was not formally educated and was brought up by an unloving
stepmother, and was often alone and unhappy. The idyllic upbringing of Frankenstein
can be seen as a reaction to this, “my mother´s tender caresses and my father´s smile of
benevolent pleasure” and along with the monsters isolated upbringing shows Mary´s
own views about the importance of upbringing, and nurturing. Frankenstein deals with
the idea of loss, which can be related to Shelley´s own life. Aswell as being motherless,
Shelley lost three of her children, her sister to suicide, and her husband. Mary Shelley
fell in love with Percy at the age of seventeen. She lived in an irregular household of
men, intent on achieving glory through their genius (Percy, Byron). In writing
Frankenstein, Shelley was reacting to the selfish nature of such ideals. “The labours of
men of genius,..are erroneously directed”. This can also be related to the detrimental
effects of Frankenstein´s own unchecked intellectual ambition.
The biographical context helps to understand some of the themes in the book
but is relatively limited in that it only tells the reader about the individual and not
society as a whole. It does not show the political aspect nor the established order that
Shelley was reacting against. Nevertheless, biographical context is very useful in order
to understand Shelley´s own situation and further explain some of the themes in the
book.
The political or social context is key in order to understand themes, as well as
the perception of the themes by it´s contemporary society. Advances in science were
apparent at this time, with Darwin´s theory of evolution, and science had a great
impact on the work of Shelley. Indeed, Darwin was a close friend of Percy and
advances in medicine and the need for cadavers also figured at the time. At the time
grave robbing was a common occurence as the bodies were sold to hospitals so that
medical students could dissect and study them. This enforces the idea that science
fiction novels are merely “satirical versions of the here and now” as opposed to an
imagined world. Through Frankenstein, Shelley explores her own fears about the
dangers of science. Frankenstein is a victim of his own unchecked ambition, “the world
was to me a secret which I desired to divine”. He cannot deal, both emotionally and
physically, with the monster he has created. By neglecting the monster, it is reiterated
that Frankenstein is not ready for the consequences of his ambition. This highlights
Shelley´s own beliefs about the dangers of science and the dangers of overreaching by
connecting tragedy with ambitious aspirations. “Seek happiness in tranquillity and
avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself
in science and discoveries.” Other examples of political context are feminist views,
influenced by her mother, and the humanist beliefs of her father. The literary context of Frankenstein is vital in order to further understand the
ideas behind the key themes. The Prometheus myths have various connections to
Frankenstein. Prometheus created his creature using fire and this can be related to the
methods employed by Frankenstein in creating the monster, “That I might infuse a
spark of being into the lifeless thing”. Furthermore, Prometheus became symbolic of
breaking the boundaries of knowledge, he went to far and should have left things to the
gods. This can be related to Frankenstein´s similar tendencies, and his attempts to
usurp God. The comparisons between the legend and this text stop there as
Frankenstein offers slightly different consequences. Prometheus was admired for what
he did whereas Frankenstein was criticised by Shelley for his egocentric antisocial
tendencies. Furthermore, Frankenstein is punished for neglecting and not creating the
monster. This puts a slightly different emphasis on what he did wrong as well as
reinforcing Shelley´s own beliefs about the importance of nurturing.
The second literary influence is that of “Paradise Lost” where parallel themes
run throughout the book. For example, the isolation of the hostile being causing an
increase in hostility. “His vices are the forced solitude that he abhors”
Frankenstein also refers to the monster in terms used in “Paradise Lost”, “the fiend”,
“the demon”. Both the creature and the creator are torn by the consequences of
misapplied knowledge and a sense of isolation. Frankenstein becomes isolated because
of what he has done, and the monster is isolated because of what he is. The literary
context helps to evoke pity for the created and switches the blame towards the blind
ambition of the creator.
This book is hugely influenced by the generic contexts of romanticism and
gothicism. When Shelley wrote Frankenstein, she was in contact with both Percy, and
Lord Byron, two poets who professed the romantic ideals of the age. The romantic
movement was also notably influenced by Godwin, Shelley´s father, and it included a
celebration of nature, an expression of the individual and basically a rebellion against
the structure of society pre-French revolution. The idea came to Shelley in a dream,
(perhaps drug induced) which in itself is the ultimate expression of the individual. Also
the concepts of uniqueness and self-realisation aswell as an increased emphasis on the
emotions and feelings of the individual are apparent here. The epistolary stlye
highlights the feelings of the characters, for example when Frankenstein sees Clerval´s
body, he cannot control the severity of his emotions. Frankenstein concerns the results
of irresponsible individual aspiration. This could be interpreted as Shelley´s own
pessimistic views about the power of the individual. Following the response of the
monarchies to the romantic ideals (e.g.. the wars of 1848), there was an increase in
disillusionment among romantics, and the possibility of a society transformed by the
individual seemed less believable.
The romantics sought inspiration from the sublime as a reaction to order an
convention, this is evident in the text where ideas about solitude, darkness, terror and
incomprehensibility are explored. The idea of isolation in the book can also be related
as the romantics felt isolated by their beliefs and their desire for progressive social
change. Mary Shelley highlights a pessimistic view of society through Frankenstein.
She seems to have little hope in the perfectibility of mankind, and relays her own
feeling about the corruption of social institutions. For example, Justine is killed for
something she didn´t do. Furthermore, even the DeLacey family who are egalitarian,
who have no gender-roles and are seemingly the perfect family reject the monster on
appearance. The monster also is typical of the concept of the noble savage, and the
belief that primitive cultures can have good intentions. This is shown through the
monsters fundamental benevolence and eloquent language. “The trait of kindness
moved me sensibly”.
The gothic movement was a reaction against political comfort and stability. It
explores the idea of terror through extreme suggestions such as death. Frankenstein
explores a more sophisticated fear, that of taking science too far. However, it does
have many gothic elements in if, for example, the extreme geographical settings are
evocative of things beyond our comprehension. this is the idea of the sublime, and the
idea that we can connect to it through contemplation of nature. “These sublime and
magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation”. Another feature of gothic
novels is that they resist reason, but the ideas are frighteningly possible as opposed to
absurd. This is another example of how the book is a projection of Shelley´s own fears
about what could conceivably happen with science. The context of a novel is vitally important in order to understand why a text
was written and the political and social beliefs that underpin it. Through context a
broader understanding of theme can be established and a balanced response to both the
text and its underpinning values can be attained.