Frankenstein; or The Modern
Prometheus
• Mary Shelley, 1818
How many truly horrible
things can happen to
one person?
Shelley’s Sad, Sad Life
• Father-William Godwin, radical philosopher
• Mother-Mary Wollstonecraft, noted feminist
intellectual, died shortly after childbirth
• Husband-Percey Bysse Shelley, Romantic poet,
died in drowning accident
• Three of Shelley’s four children died before age
three; a miscarriage with a fifth child nearly killed
Shelley
Frankenstein and Shelley’s Life
• Some schools of criticism, including Karen
Karbiener’s introductory remarks, connect
the ideas and events in Frankenstein to
Shelley’s life.
• Karbiener and others also connect the text
to the Romantic Period – Percey Shelley
and Lord Byron were noted Romantic
poets.
So You Say You Want a
Revolution!..Roots of Romanticism
• Will the French
Revolution do?
• 1789…this changes
everything!
• Established
hierarchies,
monarchies, religious
beliefs…all these long
held values were
subject to change.
Enter the Age of the Romantics
• In Art and Literature, the French
Revolution is seen as ushering in the age
of Romanticism.
What’s It Mean?
ro·man·ti·cism (r -m n t -s z m)
n.
1. often Romanticism An artistic and intellectual movement
originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized
by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's
expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the
attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against
established social rules and conventions.
2. Romantic quality or spirit in thought, expression, or action.
Nature
• Seen as antidote to harmful effects of
urbanization
• Touring beautiful scenery a new leisure
activity of the time
• Landscape endowed with human life,
passion and expressiveness (feelings
previously given to God)
Joseph William Turner 1775-1851
• His paintings transformed from
conventional landscapes to expressive,
spontaneous, intense imagery.
Emphasis on the Individual
• Poets see themselves as chosen sons
(and daughters!) or Bards
• Hero is self-sufficient
• Habit of spurning human connections
• High Value on human potential and power
Individualism: The Risk
• Renaissance and Reformation writers (that
is, pre-Romanticism) were very much
concerned with too much individualism.
• After all, the sin of pride is one of the
Seven Deadly Sins.
Yes, that’s right, Venal Sins, and
Hieronymous Bosch warned us!
Do you remember the story of
Prometheus?
• Prometheus enrages
Zeus by stealing fire
to give to man.
• His punishment is to
be chained to a rock
and have his liver
pecked out by eagle.
It regenerates each
night.
• Hercules frees him.
Why is Prometheus part of the
title?
• The myth of Prometheus was popular with
the Romantic poets. Why would it appeal
to them?
Milton’s Paradise Lost
• Paradise Lost is an epic
poem in blank verse by
the 17-th century English
poet John Milton.
• The poem concerns the
Fall of Man.
• Adam and Eve are
tempted by God’s fallen
angel Satan.
Satan is Curiously Appealing
• Or so says the Romantic
poet, artist, critic William
Blake
• The reason Milton wrote
in fetters when he wrote
of Angels & God, and at
liberty when of Devils &
Hell, is because he was a
true Poet and of the
Devil's party without
knowing it.
• — From The Marriage of
Heaven and Hell (ca.
1790–93)
Hmm…let’s think about this…
• Compare Satan (as Milton’s literary
character) and Prometheus.
• How are they similar?
• How are they different?
• Why are they both referenced in
Frankenstein?
Hubris
• What is Hubris?
• What does it have to
do with Frankenstein?
Your Pal: Aristotle…it’s his
definition
• Hubris --Greek word
for pride or insolence.
• Hubris is the defect of
character that leads
the tragic hero to
disregard all warnings
of impending disaster
and thereby hastens
the catastrophe.
Whew…Back to the definition of
Romanticism…
• But first, do you want to look at a painting
by Goya?
• He was a Romantic painter.
• And he’s really awesome!!!
• Goya– He’s the
Man!
• Here’s Saturn
devouring one
of his children.
Do you feel better now? I know I do!!!
More on definition of Romanticism
• Departure from established forms and
conventions.
• Shelley’s Frankenstein does this by mixing
up various forms (letters, oral confessions,
narration) and by including philosophy.
Epistolery Novel
• A novel written in the form of a
corespondence between characters.
• Became popular in the 18th century when
the novel was still new because it could
make it seem as though the novel were a
true account. Also give different
viewpoints of different characters.
• In what way does Frankenstein fit this
form?
From the epistle (letter):
• Robert Walton:
• “One man’s life or death were but a small
price to pay for the acquirement of the
knowledge which I sought; for the
dominion I should acquire and transmit
over the elemental foes of our race.”
A Warning…Frankenstein’s
Response
• “Unhappy man! Do you share my
madness? Have you drank also of the
intoxicating draught? Hear me—let me
reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup
from your lips!”
• What is Frankenstein’s warning? What is
the “intoxicating draught” that Walton
should avoid at all costs?
Supernatural Elements
• The Romantics loved bewitchings,
hauntings and other events that violate
natural laws and the ordinary course of
events.
Shelley’s final novel
• The Last Man
• Set in 21st century, a
plague destroys all of
humankind except for
one survivor, the
novel’s narrator.
How’s that for aloneness?
• Loneliness and alienation are central
themes of Frankenstein and they mirror
Shelley’s life.
• Poor lass…let’s spy on her journal!
“To hang back, as I do, brings a penalty. I was
nursed and fed with a love of glory. To be
something great and good was the precept
given me by my father; Shelley reiterated it…But
Shelley died, and I was alone…My total
friendlessness, my horror of pushing, and
inability to put myself forward unless led,
cherished and supported—all this has sunk me
into a state of loneliness no other human being
ever before, I believe, endured—except
Robinson Crusoe...”
Or More Simply
Alone---alone---all—all—alone
Upon the wide, wide sea--And God will not take pity on
My soul in agony!
What do these two have in
common?
And finally…
• How much does Frankenstein reflect its
author’s life?
• How much does it reflect ideals of the
Romantic period?
• How much does it become its own work,
apart from biographical and historical
context?
Thanks for listening!