Frankenstien Context Flashcards
Where did the ideas for the novel come from
A summer stay in Geneva with Lord Byron
Who was Marys mother n what did she do?
Mary Wollstonecraft
Feminist activist
wrote Vindication of the Rights of Women
Demanded women to be viewed as rational and cabaple beings
Who was Mary’s father
William Godwin
poltical thinker
main ideas was that everyone should act only for the good of mankind; otherwise, selfishness would lead to the breakdown of society.
“‘knowledge, and the enlargement of intellect, are poor, when unmixed with sentiments of benevolence and sympathy”
Who does Marys husband represent in the book
Percy = Victor
often narcissist and dismissive to her needs, both experiemented with science and galvanism
What was the enlightement era
Reason replaced religion
Scientific observation of outer world, science and logic and reason where present
what did MS fear about englightenment era
the irresponsible excerise of power would lead to chaos
Describe the Romantic period
originated in 1789 as a reaction to englightenment
focused on imagination and individual passion and a focus on nature and ‘going back to nature’
Believed in rebellion and self experssion - characters like SATAN and Promethus were favoured by romantics
Describe the civil unrests at the time of frankenstien
American and French Revolution (indivudal freedom vs heierarchy)
Industrial revolution - fear surrounding the powers of the ‘common people’
Monster reveals social injustice in this sense
Describe the Promethus myth
Prom defied Zeus by enabling the gift of fire (knowledge) to humans
he stole the fire from Zeus off Mount Olmpias from Athena’s workshop
Fire allowed humans to harness nature for their own benefit and dominate the natural order
As punishment he was tied to a rock and an eagle ate his liver which regenerated every day
What is a Promethean Hero
a Villain-Hero who has done good but only by performing an overreaching or rebellious act.
