Fourteen
Characteristics of Romanticism in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"
In the latter
part of the eighteenth century, a new genre emerged that changed literature
forever. That period in literature is referred to as the "Romantic
Era." Authors and poets that championed this new literary style
used fourteen universal characteristics that defined the genre of
romanticism. Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstoncraft Shelley, as a whole
utilizes all fourteen characteristics of the Romantic period. Defining
each of the fourteen characteristics in Frankenstein enhances the
reader's appreciation and understanding for this novel.
Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein is filled with originality, diversity, and orientalism.
The novel Frankenstein is original because it was the first horror
novel. The diversity of locations and settings overflow in the novel,
as Dr. Frankenstein and the monster pursue one another. The novel
begins with a ship on course to the Northern pole. The ship captain,
Robert Walton, in letters to his sister Margaret, recounts how Victor
Frankenstein's course of events led to his crusade in the Artic cold.
During the time the novel was written, not many individuals had experienced
the hardships of the abominable Northern pole. Author Mary Shelley
adequately writes about the oriental location that takes the audience
there.
Mary Shelley uses
the element of sentimentalism to capture the audience. As an author,
Mary Shelley, avoids graphic details and qualities in the novel Frankenstein.
The emotions that the novel expresses far outweigh any reference to
gore or depiction of vivid descriptions of the murders committed by
the monster. Instead, the emotions and a psychological understanding
of the characters exceed the grim details of death and the absolute
horror of the monster's hideous appearance.
The monster, as
a character, represents the characteristic of primitivism and medievalism.
Also, the monster plays the role as a "noble savage" in
that, despite a thorough education or the luxury of being raised by
a family, the creature was not ignorant. Alone, the monster must learn
to battle with the elements single-handedly. In fact, Frankenstein's
monster learns all that it needs to know out of three distinctly different
books consisting of Plutarch's Lives, Paradise Lost, and Sorrows of
Werter. Yearning for a mate and a simple life away from society is
the only ambition displayed by the monster. The creature acknowledges
that it cannot co-exist with man and choose to lead a simple solitary
life alone with only a mate to accompany it to the jungles of South
America.
Victor Frankenstein's
inability to relinquish his passion of defying nature and building
another being represents both anti-intellectualism and progress. Instead
of deliberating the possibilities of giving life, Frankenstein ignorantly
goes forth in his discovery. Only after Frankenstein has completed
his creation, does he become anti-intellectual. Anti-intellectual
in the sense that when Frankenstein is confronted with a scientific
explanation of his creation, he replies, "I see by your eagerness,
and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you
expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that
cannot be: listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will
easily perceive why I am reserved up that subject" (Shelley 932).
Frankenstein will not give up his secret to life because it will endanger
the progress of humanity. He realizes, too late, the true nature of
his experiments and will not allow another human being to make the
same mistake. "Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition,
even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself
in science and discoveries" (Shelley 1030) explains Victor Frankenstein.
The characteristic
of the love of the wild and picturesque is evident in the characters.
Nature, in Frankenstein, has a rehabilitating effect on the characters.
Although in pain from the beginning of its existence, the monster
revels in nature and grows stronger when nature is favorable. After
Victor Frankenstein and his family lose Justine, they travel to the
valley of Chamounix for strength. All the characters, protagonists
and antagonists, use the love of the wild and picturesque as a way
to regain strength to their souls.
Another characteristic
of romanticism demonstrated in the novel is humanitarianism. With
provisions low, and sailing toward the most extreme of conditions
of the Northern Pole, Captain Robert Walton is compelled to rescue
Victor Frankenstein from imminent death caused by the Artic cold.
Captain Walton cannot see his fellow man perish because of his humanitarian
belief that it is man's responsibility to take care of his fellow
man. While onboard the ship, Victor Frankenstein begins to tell his
story that brought him on a course to his own demise. Towards the
end of Frankenstein's tale, it is apparent that his story is a form
of confessionism. Frankenstein recounts his story in opposition to
the monster he created and the sorrow of loved ones murdered at the
hands of the creature.
Victor Frankenstein
is not a cardboard cut out character, and has several character flaws
that the audience overlooks because he is a genius. Hesitation and
apprehension plague Victor Frankenstein's ability to act against the
monster. When the monster is given life, Frankenstein rejects it with
horror and runs away in fear. Upon returning the day after his first
encounter, Frankenstein forgets about his creation and resumes a normal
life. He is again reminded of the hideous monster when his brother
William was murdered. Only after the death of subsequent family members
and friends, Frankenstein only then begins plans to defeat the monster.
Democracy with
protest and dissent are two more characteristics in Frankenstein.
Upon being charged with the murder of Henry Clerval, Frankenstein
is detained without just reason. Frankenstein is denied nearly all
rights as a man in the democratic country of Ireland. The element
of democracy is forgotten as Frankenstein endures three months in
a prison overcoming an ailment caused by viewing Clerval's body. Protest
and dissent are elements that surround Victor Frankenstein's unjust
incarceration. Mary Shelley captures both of these characteristics
as Frankenstein gradually regains his strength and eventually is liberated
from all charges.
The purgative
purpose of art is the final characteristic of romanticism. Victor
Frankenstein gradually deals with the elements cast against him. After
destroying a planned mate for his creation, he rebels and no longer
fears the monster. The author, Mary Shelley, also was dealing with
issues and affairs that affected her life during the composition of
this novel. Shelley's purgative purpose of art during these turbulent
times becomes the novel, Frankenstein.
An understanding
of the fourteen characteristics of romanticism enhances the reader's
appreciation and understanding of Frankenstein. After Frankenstein
confesses his journey to the sea captain, Robert Walton, death claims
him and the monster appears to witness the body. The monster then
explains to Walton about its suffering and aguish caused by its master
and vows to "ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in
the agony of the torturing flames" (Shelley 1034). The relevance
of Frankenstein cannot be denied as two centuries have passed and
its popularity still continues. The novel is timeless because of its
universal themes of social rejection, prejudice, and love.
