Frankenstein
Summary
Mary Shelley's groundbreaking 1818 novel Frankenstein is widely considered one of the earliest and most influential works of science fiction. Written when Shelley was just 18 years old, the gothic tale explores themes of scientific hubris, the nature of humanity, and the consequences of creation. The story of Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation has captivated readers for over 200 years and spawned countless adaptations across various forms of media. Perhaps the most famous adaptation is the 1931 film starring Boris Karloff as the monster, which cemented the creature's iconic look in popular culture.
Plot
Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Horrified by his creation, Frankenstein abandons the creature, who is shunned by society due to his appearance. The creature, lonely and miserable, eventually seeks revenge against his creator.
The creature demands that Frankenstein create a female companion for him. Frankenstein reluctantly agrees but then destroys the female creature before completing it. In retaliation, the creature murders Frankenstein's new bride Elizabeth on their wedding night. Frankenstein vows to destroy his creation and pursues the creature into the Arctic.
The novel is told as a frame story, beginning and ending with explorer Robert Walton finding Frankenstein in the Arctic. Frankenstein relates his tale to Walton before dying. The creature then appears, expressing remorse for his actions. He vows to kill himself, and disappears into the Arctic, never to be seen again.
Themes
• Dangerous pursuit of knowledge
• Beauty and the concept of the “other"
• Isolation and loneliness
• Ambition and fallibility
• Nature versus nurture
• Responsibility of the creator
• Revenge and justice
Setting
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein takes place primarily in the late 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment. This was an era of rapid scientific advancement and growing skepticism toward traditional religious and social values. The novel reflects the anxieties and ethical dilemmas arising from these dramatic changes, as Victor Frankenstein's scientific ambitions lead him to challenge the natural order.
The story unfolds across several European locations. It begins in the Arctic, where explorer Robert Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein. Through Victor's narrative, we are transported to Geneva, Switzerland, where he grows up in an idyllic household. His scientific studies then take him to Ingolstadt, Germany, where he creates the Creature. The action later shifts between Geneva, the Swiss Alps, England, Scotland, and Ireland as Victor and the Creature engage in their fateful pursuit of one another.
Shelley vividly depicts both urban and natural environments. The university town of Ingolstadt represents the cutting edge of scientific knowledge, while the sublime Alpine landscapes evoke the Romantic ideals of nature's beauty and power. The remote Arctic setting of the frame narrative adds to the story's sense of isolation and extremity. Through these varied settings, Shelley explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the relationship between humanity and the natural world.
Characters
• Victor Frankenstein: The protagonist and narrator. A young, ambitious scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox experiment.
• The Creature/Monster: Victor's creation. An intelligent but hideous being who is shunned by society and seeks revenge on his creator.
• Elizabeth Lavenza: Victor's adopted sister and later wife. A kind, gentle woman who is eventually murdered by the Creature.
• Henry Clerval: Victor's best friend from childhood. He cares for Victor during his illness and is later killed by the Creature.
• Alphonse Frankenstein: Victor's father. A kind, devoted parent who dies of grief after Elizabeth's murder.
• Caroline Beaufort: Victor's mother who dies of scarlet fever when Victor is young.
• William Frankenstein: Victor's younger brother. The Creature's first victim.
• Justine Moritz: The Frankensteins' servant who is falsely accused and executed for William's murder.
• Robert Walton: The frame narrator. An explorer who rescues Victor in the Arctic and records his story.
• Margaret Saville: Walton's sister and the recipient of his letters that frame the narrative.
Quick facts
• Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was only 18 years old.
• The novel was first published anonymously in 1818, with a preface written by Mary's husband Percy Shelley.
• Mary Shelley came up with the idea for the story during a ghost story competition with Lord Byron and others in 1816.
• The full title of the novel is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
• Contrary to popular belief, “Frankenstein” is the name of the scientist, not the monster he creates.
• The novel is considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction literature.
• Mary Shelley was inspired in part by scientific experiments with electricity and dead animals.
• The 1931 film adaptation starring Boris Karloff popularized the image of Frankenstein's monster as green with bolts in his neck.
• Mary Shelley wrote the novel while grieving the deaths of her first child and her half-sister.
• The novel has never been out of print since it was first published over 200 years ago.
About the author
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was an influential English novelist, short story writer, and essayist best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818). Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797, she was the daughter of feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin. Though she received little formal education, Shelley was exposed to radical intellectual ideas through her father's circle of acquaintances.
At age 16, Mary began a relationship with Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, whom she later married. Their infamous elopement to Europe in 1814 and subsequent travels provided inspiration for Mary's writing. It was during a summer stay near Geneva in 1816 that she conceived the idea for Frankenstein, which is often considered an early example of science fiction. The novel explores themes of scientific ethics, human hubris, and societal rejection.
Beyond Frankenstein, Mary Shelley authored several other novels including The Last Man (1826) and Lodore (1835). She also wrote short stories, travelogues, and biographies of notable European figures. After Percy Shelley's death in 1822, Mary devoted herself to promoting her late husband's poetry and securing his literary legacy. Her editing and footnotes to collections of his works helped shape how Percy Shelley was perceived by Victorian readers.