The Critical Evaluation Of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Author Mary Shelley was born August 30th, 1797 to philosopher and writer William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary’s mother passed away early in Shelley’s life and wasn’t a prominent figure. Her father remarried another woman named Mary Jane Clairmont. Shelley and her stepmother rarely got along so a female role model was not something Shelley received in her early years. Clairmont refused to send Shelley to be educated at a school but has no hesitation when sending her own daughter. Even without a formal education Shelley would still attempt to seek knowledge through books and would often daydream to escape the everyday struggles of her life at home. She also took up writing as an activity in which to express herself and admitted

What is interesting about the way Shelley writes, is the fact that she glazes over the actual birth of the monster. Bringing the character to life was not the goal of the story. How society and how the main character handles the monster is the focus. ENotes assesses Frankenstein in their Critical Evaluation showing how although the monster “develops language skills, emotion, and consciousness, he appears as a grotesque being and is spurned by society because he does not fit any ideal” (eNotes 3). The monster is curious as is the townspeople, but simple inquiry isn’t enough to stop the people from rallying against Frankenstein’s Monster. The author purposely chooses not to shine the spotlight on the horror of the monster, but the horror of the decaying society. Shelley also features prominent male characters in her novel, possibly on account of events in her own life. She writes about the character Justine, who while facing “execution, … establish[ed] a bond [with Elizabeth] that begins during a brief conversation about their shared experiences” (eNotes 8). Shelley’s lack of female characters, whether due to death or not, in the novel might have a correlation with her personal life as well. She had to endure the death of her mother as well as her sister. She brings this level of emotions into her

This character stands out from all others not only because he is the one focused on throughout the story, but he have a desire for learning that most do not have, whether in his time period or any other. Frankenstein is brilliant and ambitious; he challenges the laws of physics and nature in the most jarring ways. Instructor Liz Breazeale analyzes Victor Frankenstein and comes to the conclusion he is “completely obsessed with the concept of reanimation”, which is the act of awakening the dead (Breazeale 2). Frankenstein’s desire for the sciences of the human body is what drives him to slave over his