Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, becoming a distinguished, though often neglected, literary figure during the Romanticism Era. Mary was the only child of Mary Wollstonecraft, a famous feminist, but after her birth, Wollstonecraft passed away (Harris). Similar to Mary’s book Frankenstein, both her and Victor’s mothers die when they are at a very young age. Mary’s father was William Godwin, an English philosopher who also wrote novels that would inspire Mary in the late years of her life (Holmes). Many years later, Mary would get married to Percy Shelley although he had been previously engaged (“Shelley” Exploring). Although Mary’s mother never lived long enough for her to see her parents together, they were profound philosophers in many jargons of ideology (Miller 11). Mary and her husband Percy became important writers of second Romanticism inception. Many famous poets of the Romanticism era died in the early 1820 's, but Mary lived long into the Victorian age (“Shelley” Exploring). Throughout Mary Shelley’s life her early childhood, traumatic events, and marriage to Percy Shelley all strongly influenced her novel Frankenstein with their numerous similarities.
The first conception that influenced Mary’s novel Frankenstein was her early childhood experiences. From infancy, Mary’s parents treated her as though she would become a great prophecy one day. With high expectations were upon Mary, her parents believed that she had been born beneath a magical star (Harris). Mary’s father had thought in his philosophy that all babies were born with great potential (Harris). For a long while Mary was near many of the best writers and philosophers that England had to offer from her fathers relations. Similar to Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the main character is surrounded by many exemplary professionals helping him on his way to greatness. This is also true about Mary as many of her father’s friends would help her with writing techniques and her own philosophy
The first conception that influenced Mary’s novel Frankenstein was her early childhood experiences. From infancy, Mary’s parents treated her as though she would become a great prophecy one day. With high expectations were upon Mary, her parents believed that she had been born beneath a magical star (Harris). Mary’s father had thought in his philosophy that all babies were born with great potential (Harris). For a long while Mary was near many of the best writers and philosophers that England had to offer from her fathers relations. Similar to Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the main character is surrounded by many exemplary professionals helping him on his way to greatness. This is also true about Mary as many of her father’s friends would help her with writing techniques and her own philosophy
Cited: Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Penguin Group, August 2000. • Holmes, John R. “Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851).” OXL Biographies. Online ed. Detroit OXL, 2003. Discovering Collection Gale. MOREnet. Parkway West High School, Chesterfield, MO. 24 Mar. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com> • Miller, Calvin Craig. Spirit like a Strom The Story of Mary Shelley. Greensboro: Morgan Reynolds, 1996. • “Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft (1797-1851).” Exploring Novels. Online ed. Detroit; Gale, 2003. Discovering Collection. Gale. Parkway West High School, Chesterfield, MO. 24 Mar. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com>