Romanticism In Frankenstein Research Paper

Mary Shelley, a famous writer of the Romantic Era, is known for her novel, Frankenstein. Shelley creates a Romantic novel by embedding elements of Romanticism throughout her novel. Mary Shelley does a marvelous job at burying all elements of Romanticism within her Romantic novel, Frankenstein. In the 18th century, “a broad literary, artistic, and intellectual movement” known as the Romantic Era emerged (Quinn). This era challenged the creativity and imagination of the human mind. Because Romanticism focused on the ideal and the unimaginable, writers could freely put pen to paper and narrate their dark, creative thoughts into words. The central theme of the Romantic Era was coloring outside of the lines, to do what society thought was abnormal. Afterall, Romanticism

Many of the issues Victor faces always seem to be resolved or put to ease when “Shelley uses nature as a restorative agent for Victor Frankenstein” (Ames). However, when Frankenstein is concentrating on his problems, he tends to forget about the healing power of nature. This is shown to the readers by Victor when he says the seasons “passed away during my labors; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves-- sights which before always yielded me supreme delight” (Shelley 35). An example of nature being a healing power is shown in Robert Walton’s fourth letter when Robert says “even broken in spirit as [Victor] is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature… he may suffer misery, and be overwhelmed by disappointments; yet when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit” (Shelley 17). Walton’s description of Victor tells the reader that even though Frankenstein faces many issues, nature still seems to be his healer. Nature as beauty and healer is a prime element from the Romantic Era that Mary Shelley embedded throughout her