The Development of the Gothic Genre in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Up until 1800, literature in general consisted of a spontaneous
expression of idyllic images of love - ultimately categorised as "The
Romantic Movement." From this sprouted Romanticism's antithesis -
literary Gothicism.
When it was first introduced in the late 18th century, Gothic
literature featured accounts of terrifying experiences set in
graveyards or ancient castles, and descriptive motifs such as
flickering lamps and ghostly figures. These have now become images of
stereotypical horror. As it developed, Gothic literature came to
designate everything to do with the macabre, mysterious and
supernatural in literature more generally.
Now one of the most recognisable forms of literature, Gothicism gained
its popularity due to the stark contrast from anything that preceded
it, and the surrounding controversy that shocked and intrigued its
audiences. New scientific discovery swept across 18th century
civilization, and the need for knowledge had overcome society. To the
less educated, Gothic literature, (with its strong themes of science,)
was seen as a way to further understand and involve themselves within
these interesting developments, while the experienced scientist would
be curious of the science mentioned in Gothicism.
Another major theme that Gothicism claimed was religion. The society
of mid 1800 looked upon God as an omnipotent figure; he was powerful,
judgmental and supreme. However, many opposing and previously
untouched views on God were infused in the theme of Gothic literature.
Even today, the difference between science and religion is a topi...
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...ect and his morals were dissolute, and
his eventual insanity, Frankenstein - and the reader - becomes fully
immersed in the twisted macabre and supernatural horror of the Gothic
novel. It dares to shock its audience with taboo subjects, leaving
them with the enduring feeling that they have been awoken to a darker
side of life. "Frankenstein", along with the rest of the gothic genre,
shattered the tight-knit and perhaps naive society of the 18th
century, causing some to shun it out of their lives, but in many
others it provoked the hidden fascination with all things to do with
the macabre, sinister side to life. As in 1800, this effect is still
prevalent in our modern, less bigoted society, and today many elements
of Gothicism are featured in stories, and interlaced within the plots
of horror films throughout the world.
Frankenstein in a Historical Sense Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was published in 1818 during the Romantic era. Romanticism describes the period of time from the late 18th century to the mid 19th century. This period was seen as a response to the Enlightenment; overall there was an increase in the desire to understand the world in an objective matter (lecture). Though Romanticism is commonly viewed as a literary and artistic movement, Mary Shelley gives evidence on the development of Europe in a historical sense through her novel, Frankenstein. Through the motifs and personal experiences of her characters, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein gives insight on scientific development, emerging roles of women, and how the individual is viewed as the lower class during the early 19th century.
As one of the first gothic novels Frankenstein explores the darker side of human nature, ambitions, and the human mind.
Rousseau's ideology of education and nature laid the basic groundwork for many of the Gothic novels. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, was able to forge a bridge of thought that was able to span the chasm formed by the age of reason between the supernatural and reason. As a predecessor of the romantic movement, the Gothic novel was a direct reaction against the age of reason. The predominate idea of the age being that the world which is governed by nature is rationally ordered and given man's ability to reason, analyze and understand nature, man possesses the innate ability to use nature to create a rational society based on nature's dominate principles. The Gothic novel allowed the reader to pass from reason and order of the day to a region born of the supernatural which inspired dread and abounds in death and decay as nature's only true end.
Using gothic conventions Frankenstein explores Mary Shelley’s personal views on the scientific developments, moral and economical issues that occurred during the 19th century and Shelley’s personal emotions and questions regarding her life. As an educated person, Mary Shelley had an interest in the development of the world such as political and moral issues and she challenged these issues in the novel.
self-centered. His life is the mirror of a Greed Tragedy. In his case, the flaw
The term ‘Gothic’ conjures a range of possible meanings, definitions and associations. It explicitly denotes certain historical and cultural phenomena. Gothicism was part of the Romantic Movement that started in the eighteenth century and lasted about three decades into the nineteenth century. For this essay, the definition of Gothic that is applicable is: An 18th century literary style characterized by gloom and the supernatural. In the Gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a wide range of issues are explored. Frankenstein represents an entirely new vision of the female Gothic, along with many other traditional themes such as religion, science, colonialism and myth.
Gothic literature was developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth century of the Gothic era when war and controversy was too common. It received its name after the Gothic architecture that was becoming a popular trend in the construction of buildings. As the buildings of daunting castles and labyrinths began, so did the beginning foundation of Gothic literature. The construction of these buildings will later become an obsession with Gothic authors. For about 300 years before the Renaissance period, the construction of these castles and labyrinths continued, not only in England, but also in Gothic stories (Landau 2014). Many wars and controversies, such as the Industrial Revolution and Revolutionary War, were happening at this time, causing the Gothic literature to thrive (“Gothic Literature” 2011). People were looking for an escape from the real world and the thrill that Gothic literature offered was exactly what they needed. Gothic literature focuses on the horrors and the dark sides to the human brain, such as in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein. Gothic literature today, as well as in the past, has been able to separate itself apart from other types of literature with its unique literary devices used to create fear and terror within the reader.
Monsters are often present in gothic novels; especially in those that combine horror and romance. A monster will be the cause of individual characters fears. Frankenstein can be linked to this genre in many ways, the most obvious link being the horror element of the story. The thought of someone created from dead flesh would have been a horrific thought back then and still would be now, also Victor playing god would have been considered terrible back then “A new species would bless me as its creator” the 1800’s were still very religious times and trying to create life artificially would have been condemned by religious people.
The period of the gothic novel, in which the key gothic texts were produced, is commonly considered to be roughly between 1760 and 1820. A period that extended from what is accepted as the first gothic novel, Horace Walpoles The Castle of Otranto ( 1764 ), to Charles Maturins Melmoth the Wanderer ( 1820 ) and included the first edition of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein in 1818. In general, the gothic novel has been associated with a rebellion against constraining neoclassical aesthetic ideals of order and unity, in order to recover a suppressed primitive and barbaric imaginative freedom ( Kilgour, 1995, p3 ). It is also often considered to be a premature ( and thus somewhat crude ) manifestation of the emerging values of Romanticism. Although the gothic genre is somewhat shadowy and difficult to define it can be seen as having a number of characteristics or conventions which can be observed in Frankenstein including stereotypical settings, characters and plots, an interest in the sublime, the production of excessive emotion in the reader ( particularly that of terror and horror), an emphasis on suspense, the notion of the double and the presence of the supernatural. (Kilgour, 1995; Botting, 1996 ; Byron, 1998 : p71 )
The novels were written in the 19th century, ‘Frankenstein’ was first published in 1818 and ‘Dracula’ was first published in 1897. In this century there was a fanaticism with Gothic horror stories and these novels reflect this. In the last century, a wide audience would have appreciated these novels, although they are not great literary accomplishments, people of that period enjoyed reading this type of story, filled with horror, suspense and intrigue. The very idea that such an evil and frightening creature could exist shocked and aroused the curiosity of many people at this time. Society in the last century was extremely corrupt and immoral, the novel ‘Frankenstein’ reflects this, in which an innocent creature is shunned by society because of it’s abnormal and somewhat shocking appearance.
The literary elements of remote and desolate settings, a metonymy of gloom and horror, and women in distress, clearly show “Frankenstein” to be a Gothic Romantic work. Mary Shelley used this writing style to effectively allow the reader to feel Victor Frankenstein’s regret and wretchedness. In writing “Frankenstein” Mary Shelley wrote one the most popular Gothic Romantic novels of all time.
In the examination of Northanger Abbey and Frankenstein one comes to very different conclusions as to why their authors used gothic elements. The two authors had very different purposes for their stories. Powerful emotions are often an element of gothic literature as it was a genre that took Romanticism to excessive extents. While Austen used this gothic element to satirize the gothic novel, Shelley used it to display a deeper point about the evils of ambition. Both authors exhibited characters severe emotions to show the importance of rationality instead of extremes, but ultimately had a different purpose in presenting this view.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic science fiction novel written in the romantic era that focuses on the elements of life. The romantic era was sparked by the changing social environment, including the industrial revolution. It was a form of revolt against the scientific revolutions of the era by developing a form of literature that romanticize nature and giving nature godliness. This element of romanticized nature is a recurrent element in Frankenstein and is used to reflect emotions, as a place for relaxation and as foreshadowing. Frankenstein also includes various other elements of romanticism including strong emotions and interest in the common people.
Mary Shelley characterizes the characteristics of the Romantic period in the novel Frankenstein. Most literature reflects the time period in which it was written, whether it is in the past, in the future, or right now. Writers or even social media trender’s can’t help to write about political events, which helps describe the time period. This isn’t intentional, a writer can’t help including things that are happening or trending during his or her novel. The Romantic Period had an influence on Marry Shelly's writing of the novel, 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