Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date: 19/11/2019

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In "Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus," Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley intricately weaves a narrative that explores the profound consequences of unbridled ambition and the quest for knowledge. Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution and burgeoning scientific inquiry, the novel employs a Gothic literary style characterized by eerie settings, complex characters, and moral ambiguity. Shelley's use of multiple narrators elevates the text, allowing readers to ponder the essence of humanity through the dual perspectives of creator and creature, ultimately questioning the ethics of scientific experimentation and the ramifications of isolation. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the daughter of the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, was profoundly influenced by the intellectual climate of her time, including the tumult of the French Revolution and the early stirrings of feminist thought. Her personal experiences, such as the loss of her mother and the tumultuous relationship with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, inform the novel'Äôs exploration of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of abandonment. Shelley's unique vantage point as a woman in a male-dominated literary world enables her to address themes of empathy and alienation with a poignancy that resonates deeply. "Frankenstein" is not only a key text in the Gothic genre but also a significant critique of the Enlightenment'Äôs ideal of reason. It remains remarkably relevant today, inviting readers to reflect on the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific progress and the need for compassion in an increasingly fragmented world. This novel is essential reading for those interested in the intersections of science, ethics, and literature.

ISBN:
4057664154408
4057664154408
Category:
Horror & ghost stories
Format:
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date:
19-11-2019
Language:
English
Publisher:
GoodPress
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

The childhood of Mary Shelley (1797 – 1851), sounds rather like a dark fairy-tale. Her mother died giving birth to her and she was brought up by a remote father and a step-mother who hated her. Her step-sister was a depressive and later committed suicide and Mary had little in common with her step-brother or her half-brother. As a young girl, she escaped into books and would often read by the side of her mother's tomb.

In 1813 Mary met Percy Bysshe Shelley. He was only twenty-one but was already unhappily married. He was destined to be one of the geniuses of English poetry. The two fell in love and eloped, despite Mary's age. Her father, William Godwin, disowned her, but still she and Shelley were married in 1816. They settled in Italy but tragedy seemed to follow them. Only one of their four children lived very long and then, in 1822, when he was just thirty, Shelley was drowned. Mary lived for another thirty years but she lost the promise that she had shown in the company of her brilliant husband and his friends, such as the poet Lord Byron. The single book that we remember her for belonged to her happy time in Italy.

It was Byron who suggested in 1817, that they each write a horror story. The result in Mary's case, was Frankenstein. As well as being creepier than most other books in the genre, Frankenstein has a far better story-line and is in the end, both moving and tragic. Amazingly, a young girl of twenty gave us the book whose name has become synonymous with horror.

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