The Role Of Romanticism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Major writings are more than often based on the society and movements occurring at the time of their creation. This is especially evident in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. Shelley wrote the story during the height of Romanticism, a system of ideologies drawn from the negative impacts of the industrial revolution. The story was focused around a scientist Frankenstein, attempting to bring back life while in the process creating a horrific being who would later terrorize the city in which he lived. While on the surface, it seems to be a simple horror story, the popular romanticism belief of leaving certain things undiscovered is carried throughout. Shelley reveals through several more romantic ideas how the thirst for new …show more content…
During the time of the story’s creation, a scientist named Galvani discovered that after giving electric shocks to frogs, their legs would twitch, and he believed he discovered the quintessence of life. This was against romantics ideals, as they believed nature did not adhere to the law and therefore could not be truly understood and should be left alone. Shelley’s Frankenstein shows what happens when humans interfere with nature. After Frankenstein creates his monster, the monster is discarded as less than human and retreats to get revenge by murdering the people of the town. Shelley shows how the creation of life is beyond human power and should not be attempted to be recreated. Romantics thought that in order to live happily some things should be left unknown in order to secure its beauty. Frankensteins ugly outer appearance shows that when humans intrude on something that was created by nature, it tends to become unattractive and lose its once wonder and beauty. This could connect to the attempts of rationalisation during the enlightenment. Along with Galvani, his grandson attempted to discover how to revive life by using oxen where he found similar effects. However, he began to take his discoveries and use them as performances. This once again took the beauty and mystery of life and people began to try to rationalize something that was simply better left a wonder of the …show more content…
Romantics truly believed to find truth one must act upon their emotional response to something. In the story the majority of actions are emotionally based especially the monsters, as his whole reasoning for attack was the fact that society outcasted him. Along with this Frankenstein's whole reasoning for creating life was to eliminate death as his mother had died young. While from these emotional reactions came great obstacles, it was derived from the fact that during the scientific revolution and enlightenment the romantics felt as emotion had been taken from the decisions and lives of people. This is why they believed they were so unhappy as they were simply living through the motions.
Although at first sight Frankenstein seems to be a simple story it actually holds many romanticism ideals and is a commentary on the enlightenment and the scientific revolution. Its messages of leaving mystery, finding truth in emotional response and keeping individual rights to attack the movements occurring at the time. Shelley shows how she sees the negative societal impacts happening at the time and the ways that knowledge is corrupting