Frankenstein By Mary Shelley: A Literary Analysis

The Modern Prometheus or Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley is arguably one of the most memorable classical novels to emerge from the 1800s. A dark tale full of betrayal, horror, and fatal flaws mixed with scientific miracles has captured readers for centuries. It follows the story of Victor Frankenstein a viciously determined scientist on his quest to create life. After years of work he finds himself victorious creating a creature out of human body parts and electricity. Although at what price? Disgusted by his creature and his underwhelming accomplishment he runs away leaving the creature and reputation in the dirt. Struggling with a life sentence of abandonment and rejection from his own creator the creature seeks revenge upon his creator.

As Victor goes through his life journey the setting of the novel travels across europe. Starting off in Russia the novel then switches to Geneva. Geneva is a city in Switzerland that is surrounded by the alps , and it is also the place that both Victor and Shelley hold close to there heart. “ Her lengthy stay in Scotland as an adolescent, the Geneva Summer, and her five years spent in Italy,” (Bennett ix). Shelley’s Geneva summers must be important and meaningful to her, as she sets up victor to grow up there. He not only grew up there but holds pride in his birthplace “ I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic” (Shelley 24). Her own life is seen in Victor, giving him the same childhood experiences that she once lived through. This is done intentionally, she has a lot of knowledge of the area and how it feels to be in it. Setting in Frankenstein plays important role in understanding the characters , the way that nature is depicted is reflective of the their inner emotions. “...filled me with a sublime ecstasy that gave wings to the soul…” (Shelley 110) Victor is walking and taking time to think as he walks around and looks at the alps, overcome by the beauty and serenity he finds peace with in himself through nature. Geneva is surrounded by the beautiful massive view of the alps. Shelley drew upon her own visions of the alps to reveal victors cease of his struggles. Parallels between the Frankenstein family and her own are also very apparent. Mary Shelley was born in 1797 to Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Both of her parents were writers that she was influenced by during her adolescence. Unfortunately her mother died shortly after giving birth to Shelley. Victor also suffered a death of a mother “ I need not describe the feelings of those whose dearest ties are rent by that most