The Enlightenment In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Writers are often influenced by what's going on around the in that specific time period. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” shows the influence of nineteenth century england. Throughout the novel, mary shelley incorporates the situations of the nineteenth century through cultural, scientific and social contexts, she paints a vivid picture of what progress society had made at the time. The government, the enlightenment and the dangers of science are represented. Therefore, frankenstein gives us an analysis of the 19th, the enlightenment, the roles of men and women at the time and science. Victor frankenstein is the main character and creator of the creature in the novel. Due to his obsession with science, victor creates this creature which he is pleased with, but he quickly becomes disgusted with his creations and abandons it, causing the creature to go through a range …show more content…

The idea that frankenstein creates life with his own hands and that god did not create life shows the influence of the enlightenment on mary shelley. Also the creature is an indication on the birth of science, as at the 19th century science had just become a profession. This shows the influence and power of science on mary shelley during this era, she is aware of the dangers of science as scientists can manipulate natural things to create creatures just like frankenstein's creature or even worse than that. Science is a critical point in this story because it makes the conflict of the story. With the power to create abnormal creatures, shelley shows the influence of science on humans and this is indicated when the creature recognises himself in the mirror. “At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification (Shelley

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