Frankenstein post

Frankenstein is part of the Gothic genre (other gothic tales we’ve read: “Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”)
Author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly:
- daughter of two well renown writers
- mother was an acclaimed feminist writer, but died when Mary was young
- Mary had an unhappy childhood, a cold stepmother and feelings of alienation.
- She tried to commits suicide twice
- Percy Shelly was married when he met Mary
- Urban Legend was that Percy and Mary would meet at Mary's mother's grave to hare
sex
- Mary wrote Frankenstein when she was 19 as part of a dare.
- She had problems with childbirth.
*look for themes of childbirth and parenting throughout Frankenstein.*
For more info read the preface and introduction available in the Norton Critical Edition

Full title is Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus
Prometheus = god who created fire and was punished for wanting to be
a benefactor

Characters
Walton: mediator and recorder: writing letters to sister, Margaret, which chronicle the events.
Victor: creator, father and mother figure, god, Promethean figure

Walton and Victor want control, have childlike curiosity, don't take responsibility for
their actions, and have altruistic motives.

The monster: ugly, un-nurtured, abandon, alienated, distorted/deformed, eloquent, gentle, murderer, lonely

Both Walton and the monster are lonely and want companionship.

Think about:
What is a monster?
How is a monster made?
The relationship of the monster to society
The use of dead women
Connections between Native Son and Frankenstein