Frankenstei

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Paperback

Published January 1, 2013

About the author

Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.

Reviews

[Gemma Pi Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sublim.

Una reflexió de com els prejudicis i la por al desconegut creen rebuig i aquest crea odi; com en algú que busca amor, acceptació i comprensió però reb despreci li creix malícia i ràbia, com aquestes són responsables d'actes foscos i d'una voluntat de venjança fins i tot per damunt del penediment, esdevenint-ne vides miserables.

"Si no puc inspirar amor, causaré por"

"He de respectar l'home quan l'home em menysprea? Fes que l'home visqui amb mi, que intercanviï amb mi les seves amabilitats i jo, en comptes de fer-li cap mal, li oferiré tots els beneficis amb llàgrimes de gratitud per la seva acceptació"

[Jim Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots to love here. At the top of the list, most of the images I held of Frankenstein were debunked entirely—no more Herman Munster; rather a being of deep complexity, moral confusion, and fatal passions.

The symbolism stuck out for me. Light and dark, innocence versus corruption, hubris versus humility. The scenes where the monster encounters the blind grandfather and briefly enjoys acceptance, then contrasted with the searing hate and bigotry, were stark and painful. I felt for the Being.

I would bring a new hermeneutic in a reread. I did not catch on to the battle between hubris and irresponsibility in Frankenstein himself. A key turning point occurred when Victor allowed Justine to go to the gallows instead of admitting his role in all this. He alone was responsible for William's death and exacerbated that by hiding in his own shadows. The plot revolved around the inability to accept what he unleashed. Even his destruction of the promised work of creating a mate failed to register the consequences. What a coward.

Like the people of today who become a project rather than a human, this novel presages that situation. How many clicks would Victor get? What an influencer he dreamed of becoming. Technological advance without reflection is the real monster here. I will look for other readers to discuss more fully.

[Debbie Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have thought about reading this book several times over the years and finally did read it. I was motivated because the play Frankenstein is playing at Playhouse Square and I decided to both read the book and see the play. I am going to the play on Sunday. I was amazed at the insight into human nature in this story. It is a real look at what makes a good person and what emotions and feelings motivate a "bad" person. This book gives a lot to think about. The story, however, is in many ways unrealistic and dated. I understand why it is considered a classic but it is one of those classics that is difficult to read and get through. I am glad I read it but would not recommend it -- unless, of course, there is an interest to read classic literature -- then it is a must read. I do think that it will make a good play though. We will soon see!

[Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

lo releí recientemente por la película que sacaron hace poco, es mucho mejor de lo que recordaba aunque siento que Victor en el libro es un personaje más simple, como una metáfora de la transgresión más que la ambición. El de joven estaba enamorado de la alquimia y luego eso hace que decida confrontar las reglas de su universidad y crear a la creatura. Sin lugar a dudas el mejor personaje en el libro es Adam osea el monstruo! Es interesante ver como va a aprendiendo sólp del mundo que lo rodea y el rechazo que tienen de el.

post data: yo soy más de creer que el era en realidad bello sólo que daba un sentomiento de uncanny valley al verlo.

[Michael Krantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, the snippets high school teachers give you are so far removed from the context and meaning of the book! Everyone has an idea of what this book is, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of us don't have the right idea. You really do have to read the whole thing to get it.

While the prose may not be the best at times, the book is a masterpiece when it comes to symbolism and character parallels. Mary Shelley fully deserves the respect she gets as one of the most foundational authors for the sci-fi genre.

[Jina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very interesting read, but not my cup of tea. It was very well told and great developement but the characters was so one sided, it was maddening. The ideas discussed were very interesting, especially about what it means to create something, what responsibility we have toward each other, what it means to control nature and live in it.

[Noah Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how I waited so long to read this but here we are. Once you get pass the flowery language that Shelley uses, it is a pretty easy read. It's also very compelling (obviously, it's a classic). I saw this book as being an allegory for attachment theory which differs from Shelley's intent, I think. As such, Victor was always an unrelated narrator. Overall, it was very good and lived up to its classic status.

[Aoife Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book the storyline was so good and easy to follow

[Jesús Soto · Rating 2 out of 5]

No puedo dejar de pensar que, en libro que leí, hay una historia mucho más interesante que pudo haber sido contada si se hubieran elegido los elementos adecuados (ya sea una perspectiva diferente, enfocarse más en alguna temática). En pocas palabras, tengo la impresión de que hay potencial que no se terminó de explotar del todo 🤔