By Mary Shelley

”The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters”

Born in England on August 30, 1779 Daughter of feminist writer Mary

Wollstonecraft and radical political philosopher William Godwin

Shelley’s parents were known for their liberal writings at a time when England was still very conservative

Shelley’s mother died not long after giving birth, which allegedly left Shelley to grow up with tremendous guilt

Shelley’s childhood was very unconventional; her parents’ writings taught her liberal ideas about female independence and sexual freedom that were not very popular at the time

Although she did not receive a formal education, Shelley was home-schooled, encouraged to read and discuss what she wished, and was introduced to famous and influential writers and thinkers of the time

Shelley grew increasingly distant from her father when he remarried in 1801; the tensions in Shelley’s home life are said to have played a major part in her writing

In 1812, Shelley met her future husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley, in addition to being married already, was a handsome, wealthy, atheist poet who shared Shelley’s liberal views, namely those regarding women’s rights

Their close relationship eventually became an affair, and they ran away from England together in 1814

When they turned to England several months later, Shelley was pregnant with a child that would die two weeks after being born prematurely

Mary and Percy were married in 1816, not long after his first wife’s suicide

By that time, Mary Shelley was basically disowned by her father and considered an immoral “fallen woman” by conservative English standards

The Shelleys had three more children, only one of which survived to adulthood

Shelley herself nearly died in 1822 from a miscarriage

During Shelley’s recovery, her husband drowned while sailing; because their relationship was strained at the time, Shelley felt great guilt over her husband’s death, which also had a profound impact on her writing

Shelley wrote and published numerous short stories, novels, and dramas throughout her lifetime, with Frankenstein being her most famous

Shelley died of a brain tumor on February 1, 1851

Written when Shelley was 18 Allegedly her contribution to a contest

between her husband, a friend, and herself to see who could write the best scary story

Published anonymously when she was 21 in 1818 (later editions, published after 1831, were credited to her)

Considered a Gothic fantasy Gothic = a style of literature that contains

elements of darkness, horror, and the supernatural fantasy = the creation of a world that mirrors

reality but with a certain tilt; often used to critique reality

Influences: Prometheus myth Dr. Faustus Paradise Lost Romantic poets/poetry

Each of these literary influences illustrates an attempt by man to steal power from God

Influences (continued): Émile by Jean Jacques Rousseau (pub. in French in

1762; translated to English in 1763) a polemic (a deliberately controversial piece of

art/literature) Rousseau argues that all people are naturally

good; however, more often than not society corrupts them

He uses the terms “natural man” or “noble savage” to describe an individual in their natural, uncorrupted state

Because children are abused by society, they grow up to become abusers and continue the cycle

Rousseau suggested children should be sheltered from society until they receive a proper education, and that education needs to be based on the stages of human development

Rousseau’s educational views, though controversial, are the basis of modern education

Rousseau’s development-based education: Children should receive a purely physical education; as they

reach puberty, they should be taught a manual trade During adolescence, students should receive a more traditional

education; however, this should be limited to subjects that they find interesting and enjoyable; this study should be guided by a private tutor

In late adolescence, the individual should be prepared to study complex subjects such as religion, history, and sociology (in order to learn about the corruptive power of society and therefore be able to combat it)

Only after completing these stages should young adults venture unprotected in society

In Frankenstein, the “monster” begins as a noble savage but is abandoned by his creator and corrupted by society; only then does he become a true monster

Feminist reading Doesn’t necessarily have to involve strong

female characters (Shelley’s mother was a teacher and a feminist)

Women could find a voice in the monster’s rage against his mistreatment by society

Critique of patriarchal/father figures; claims men can create but can’t nurture

Structure Shelley’s preface serves as a disclaimer or an

explanation for how/why she is writing “outside her sphere” (the story is very masculine and fantastical)

Frame narrative (story within a story) Begins with letters written by Captain Robert

Walton to his sister explaining his encounter with Dr. Victor Frankenstein (sets the stage for the main part of the novel)

Victor’s narrative explains the story of him and his creation

Concludes with Walton’s explanation of the story’s outcome