Context (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes
Context
Understanding the historical, social, and literary context of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is essential for appreciating the novel's themes and significance. Shelley was writing during a period of dramatic change in science, society, and literature, all of which influenced her creation of this groundbreaking work.
Historical and social context
Science and religion
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, rapid scientific advancement was challenging traditional religious beliefs. Many people feared that scientific progress was pulling humanity away from God and religious understanding.
A key scientific development that influenced Shelley was Luigi Galvani's experiment in 1780. Galvani used electrical sparks to make a dead frog's leg twitch, leading to widespread speculation that electricity might be used to bring dead organisms back to life. This experiment captured the public imagination and directly inspired Shelley's concept of Victor bringing his creature to life.
Galvani's experiments with "animal electricity" were part of a broader scientific movement that sought to understand the fundamental forces of life. The idea that electricity could animate dead tissue was revolutionary and deeply unsettling to many people of the time, as it seemed to challenge the uniqueness of divine creation.
How this connects to Frankenstein:
- Victor's scientific pursuits represent a threat to the natural order established by God
- Shelley uses religious imagery throughout the novel, with Victor aspiring to have "God-like powers" through his creation
- Victor declares he will "pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation"
- The novel presents Victor's desire to understand life and death as going against divine authority, as he seeks to learn "the secrets of heaven and earth"
Social and political changes
The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) brought rapid industrialisation and scientific knowledge, fundamentally changing society. This period also saw the emergence of Romanticism, which emphasised nature and emotion as a reaction to industrialisation.
Several major political events shaped the era:
- The French Revolution created political turmoil and questioned traditional social structures and individual responsibility
- The Napoleonic Wars of 1815 led to economic depression and high unemployment
- Women's inequality was prevalent - women lacked equal rights to men
Notably, Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was an early advocate for women's rights, which influenced Shelley's perspective on social justice.
The intersection of scientific revolution, political upheaval, and social inequality created a perfect storm of anxiety about progress and change. Shelley's Frankenstein can be read as a direct response to these fears, exploring what happens when scientific ambition proceeds without ethical consideration of its social consequences.
How this connects to Frankenstein:
- The creature symbolises the marginalised, describing himself as "the miserable and the abandoned... to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on"
- The portrayal of female characters like Justine, Elizabeth, and Catherine reflects gender injustices of the time
- The male characters' self-centred actions critique men's dominance in society
Literary context
The Romantic movement
Romanticism was an intellectual and artistic movement spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. It championed individualism, nature, emotion, creativity, and the arts. The Romantics believed people were naturally good, but that evil resulted from poor nurturing and negative social influences.
Key Romantic beliefs included:
- Nature as restoration: The natural world provided reflexion and spiritual renewal
- Emotion over reason: Reaction against the Age of Enlightenment's emphasis on logic and structure
- Innate human goodness: Following philosopher Rousseau's idea that children have natural goodness but society corrupts them
The Romantic emphasis on the individual's emotional experience and the corrupting influence of society directly influenced Shelley's portrayal of both Victor and his creature. The novel suggests that neither character is inherently evil, but rather becomes corrupted through isolation from natural goodness and positive social connections.
How this connects to Frankenstein:
- Shelley makes numerous allusions to Romantic literature, particularly referencing Paradise Lost
- The creature compares himself to Satan as "the fitter emblem of my condition"
- Victor likens himself to "the archangel who aspired to omnipotence"
- Nature plays a crucial role - the creature finds happiness in natural settings away from society, saying "sorrow only increased with knowledge"
- The novel suggests that Victor's corruption comes from society's influence rather than natural evil
Gothic genre
Frankenstein represents one of the earliest examples of both science fiction and Gothic fiction. Gothic literature explores the consequences of transgressing against societal norms and natural boundaries.
Key Gothic characteristics found in Frankenstein:
- Innocent victims (such as Justine)
- Anti-hero protagonist (Victor lacks traditional heroic qualities)
- Isolated settings (various remote locations throughout the novel)
- Aristocratic characters who are isolated and mysterious
Gothic Elements in Action: Justine's Trial
Shelley demonstrates multiple Gothic characteristics in Justine's trial scene:
- Innocent victim: Justine is falsely accused and executed for William's murder
- Anti-hero protagonist: Victor knows the truth but remains silent, failing to act heroically
- Isolated setting: The courtroom becomes a place of injustice, isolating Justine from help
- Aristocratic mystery: Victor's privileged position allows him to hide the truth
This scene shows how Gothic elements work together to create moral complexity and highlight social injustices.
How this connects to Frankenstein:
- Justine's death symbolises the destruction of innocence, reflecting Frankenstein's lack of heroic qualities
- Victor belongs to a distinguished Geneva family, adding to questions about his reliability as narrator
- The novel features multiple isolated settings that contribute to its Gothic atmosphere
- Victor's "correction and augmentation" of Walton's account raises questions about the truthfulness of events portrayed
Key Points to Remember:
- The scientific context of Galvani's experiments directly inspired Shelley's concept of reanimating dead tissue
- The Industrial Revolution and Romantic movement created tension between scientific progress and natural harmony that runs throughout the novel
- Social inequalities, particularly regarding women's rights, are reflected in the novel's character portrayals
- Gothic and Romantic literary traditions provided Shelley with frameworks for exploring themes of transgression, nature, and human goodness
- Understanding these contexts helps explain why Frankenstein remains relevant as both an early science fiction work and a critique of unchecked scientific ambition