Young Novelist Mary Shelley's Journey into the Terrifying Realm of Horror with Her Seminal Works, "Dr. Frankenstein" and the Monstrous Creature It Conjured
In the summer of 1816, a group of literary luminaries gathered at Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. Among them were Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, John Polidori, and Claire Clairmont. Influenced by the contemporary scientific theories and Luigi Galvani's groundbreaking science experiments, they spent their time debating ideas and engaging in spirited discussions.
It was during this creative and intellectual atmosphere that Mary Shelley drew inspiration for her novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." The summer of 1816 was also known as the "Year Without a Summer," a period of unusual cold weather that may have contributed to the eerie atmosphere that permeated the villa.
Mary Shelley's novel tells the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist studying at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Frankenstein conducts mysterious science experiments and, against all odds, creates a large, robust creature. However, when the creature comes to life, Frankenstein is horrified by what he has created.
Luigi Galvani's science experiments, including animating dead frogs' legs, played a significant role in inspiring Mary Shelley's novel. In fact, the term "galvanize," meaning to stimulate or animate, entered the English language due to Galvani's work.
Initially, the novel began as a ghost story told around a fire. As the nights grew colder and the fire burned lower, Mary Shelley's tale of the bitter and vengeful creature grew more complex. The creature, shunned by society due to his monstrous appearance, becomes increasingly angry and vengeful, seeking revenge against his creator and society as a whole.
In the original 1818 edition of the novel, Dr. Frankenstein is portrayed as a reckless scientist who pays the price for his hubris. However, in later editions, Dr. Frankenstein is portrayed as a victim of fate, with the science that brought the creature to life now seen as a force of nature beyond his control.
Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" has become a cultural touchstone, with the theme of the creator being killed by his creation becoming an important part of our collective consciousness. The novel is considered the first science fiction novel and a genuine literary classic.
Mary Shelley's life and family background made her a unique figure in literary history. Born in 1797 to parents who were prominent figures in the Enlightenment movement, Mary Shelley was raised in an intellectual and creative environment. She met Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1812, and the two eventually married and had children together.
Today, "Frankenstein" remains a powerful and enduring work, continuing to captivate readers and inspire artists more than 200 years after its publication. Mary Shelley's contribution to the group's competition at Villa Diodati became one of the most famous novels in literary history, solidifying her place as a pioneer of the science fiction genre and a literary giant.
