Frankenstein By Mary Shelley: A Literary Analysis

Frankenstein is a popular novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. When she began in 1816, she was only 18 years old. It was then published in 1818, when she was only 20 years old. This novel is a product of a ghost story competition and Mary got the idea from a dream. Analyzing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the feminist, archetypal, and

historical/biographical lenses, helps one better understand the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth, Victor and his monster’s quest for revenge, and how Mary Shelley’s life influenced the work.

The relationship between Victor and Elizabeth is important because it helps us understand the future event and conflict of Elizabeth's death and the impact on Victor. For example, when Victor is young
This is important because it helps understand events Mary Shelley put into this writing. For instance, when the creature realizes William’s name, “Frankenstein!” he says “You belong then to my enemy-to him towards I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim”(182), and afterward murders William. This shows that William is the first victim of the creature, but there will be more to follow: Justine (indirectly), Henry, Elizabeth, and Victor’s father (also indirectly). Before this Victor’s mother dies of a fever. This also shows Mary Shelley’s character Victor is very similar to herself. She lost a son named William, as Victor loses a brother named William. Mary Shelley’s mother died of puerperal fever, as Victor’s mother died of scarlet fever. In addition, upon the death of his family, Victor expresses, “I formed in my own heart a resolution to pursue my destroyer to death”(182). This shows that when Victor had nothing left, and felt no reason to live, he dedicated his life to finding revenge. This also shows Victor’s life is similar to Mary Shelley’s as after the guilt of her mother’s death when she was a newborn, and her guilt of the death of her three children, she dedicated her life to writing as a way to help her through life, just as searching for revenge was Victor’s way to continue through life. Furthermore, when Victor first saw his monster he first
Had he not secluded himself, Victor may not have created the moster and therefore had a happier life. With some love and guidance, the creature may not have been so bitter and angry. Mary Shelley,in a way, was telling her life story as she told Frankenstein. Analyzing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the feminist, archetypal, and historical/biographical lenses, helps one better understand the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth, Victor and his monster’s quest for revenge, and how Mary Shelley’s life influenced her