Frankenstein And English Romanticism Essay Example

so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge." (Shelley 746) This excerpt reflects the prevalent emotions during the Romanticist era, as the monster is in pain and lamenting his creation. Additionally, an important aspect of romanticism is the connection between the author and the story.

The autobiographical aspect of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is not immediately apparent, unlike many other works of literature. One might question how a book about a monster relates to the author's real life. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the monster's story is symbolic of Mary Shelley's own life (Caprio). At a young age, Shelley's mother passed away, leaving her. Similar to Dr. Frankenstein, her mother had been her creator.

The creation of the monster by Frankenstein resulted in its abandonment and forced it to navigate the world independently. This mirrors the experience of a young child who lacks knowledge about the outside world after being separated from their home. Shelley, like the monster, had her own entry into the world following her mother's death and, although she was an actual child, shares similarities with the monster in terms of mental and emotional development (Hamberg). These elements encompass two central themes of romanticism: autobiographical concepts and imagery. Furthermore, it is plausible that childbirth also instilled fear in the author as depicted in the book.

Given that Shelley's own mother died while giving birth to her, it is not surprising that she may have viewed herself as a monster. This could explain the creation of the monster and its monstrous nature. The autobiographical themes prevalent during the English

Romanticism era, in which Shelley wrote, would support this interpretation. Furthermore, the book delves into the theme of creation and the suffering it can entail. Similar to how Frankenstein had no choice in being created and had to endure pain caused by his creation, Shelley did not choose to be born and had to live with the consequences of her birth. This brought about pain not only for herself but also for her family.

The book examines the different difficulties linked to parental rejection and societal pressure, emphasizing how it mirrors the treatment of women during that time. In literary pieces, women were frequently depicted as weak and prone to fainting. The female characters who came across the monster in the cottage conformed to this stereotype by fainting while Felix physically assaulted the creature, thus reinforcing the conventional gender roles prevalent at that period (Zschrirnt 48).

During that era, the exaltation and admiration for simple men were widespread. The story of the monster serves as a prime example of the admiration we had for ordinary individuals at that time. Initially, the monster is a basic and somewhat mindless being who is thrown into the world without much knowledge, rendering him lost. However, as he observes and hides among the cottage people, he gradually comprehends human ways. Through observation and hard work, he learns to speak and even teaches himself to read. The entire survival system that the monster must adopt deeply resonated with readers then and continues to do so now, as he represents a common creature not unlike the average person.

The text highlights the protagonist's ability to overcome challenges such as a language barrier, which exemplifies

the struggles of everyday life (Brigham 195). However, despite his efforts to be accepted, society fails to see beyond his physical appearance, which reflects the larger dilemma faced by the neoclassical society (Brigham 195). Although Frankenstein may not conform to the traditional norms of English Romanticism, it is argued that Shelley employs symbolism, metaphors, and a central theme that make it a prime example of this literary movement in today's world (Pipkin). The context in which Frankenstein is written coincides with a revival of Greek myths, and the creation of Frankenstein serves as a metaphorical representation of society's fears and the author's self-reflection (Cantor 411).

This concept was prevalent in numerous works by Plato and experienced a resurgence during the English Romanticism period. In the story of Frankenstein, various emotions were depicted through descriptive imagery. These descriptions conveyed a narrative of a society that rejected individuals who deviated from their established norms, regardless of their efforts to conform. Authors of English Romanticism frequently employed personal anecdotes to enact fictional adventures.

The text likely served as a therapeutic outlet for individuals to express their inner feelings of abandonment or other emotions. It was notable that within this genre, men in the stories also openly shared their tormenting emotions. This possibly highlighted the necessity to express feelings that were not traditionally accepted by men during that time and are still suppressed by society today (Heffernan 133). Frankenstein exemplifies English Romanticism and includes autobiographical elements by recounting author Mary Shelley's life story.

It also utilized the symbolism commonly found in novels of the time period. This was demonstrated by featuring a monster as the main

character, which symbolized the rejection and mistreatment suffered by Shelley herself. Frankenstein is an exemplary work of English Romanticism that has achieved status as a classic literary piece.

Bibliography

1. Brigham, Linda. "Legacies of omission and unacknowledged bequests: Recent Romantic Criticism." College Literature 24 (1997): 195.
2. Cantor, Paul. "The Reception of Myth in English Romanticism." Modern Philology 95 (1998): 411.
3. Caprio, Terri. "Overview of Feminist Criticism." Online. Internet. Available URL: http://loki.stockton.edu/stk13818/fem.htm.
4. Hamberg, Cynthia. "Biography: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley." Online.

Internet. 1999. Available URL: http:/home-1.worldline.nlhamberg/text/MaryShelley/biographytext.html.

Hall, Jacquline. "The Prong of Love." Southern Cultures 5 (1999): 44. Heffernan, James A.W.

"Looking at the Monster: Frankenstein and Film." Critical Inquiry 24 (1997): 133

The source mentioned is "Literature of the Western World, 4th ed. vol.2" by Prentice Hall in 1996 (pages 668-803). Christiane Zschirnt's article "Fainting and Latency in the Eighteenth Century's Romantic Novel of Courtship" can be found in The Germanic Review, volume 74, published in 1999 on page 48.