Romantic Values in Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN

          The narrative established in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein embodies the thematic conventions of the Romanticism movement of European society in the late 19^th century. Apart from general qualities, such as a plot central to emotionally raw awe and horror, the narrative maintains a commentary or subtext that criticizes a revolution of scientific ideals in contemporary society as a result of the Enlightenment Era. With an increase in scientific emphasis, Romanticists often attempted to reject and defy the objectification of nature under empirical sciences, which were attributed to the oversimplification and degradation of natural beauty. This is demonstrated by Victor Frankenstein’s early evolution of interest as he maintains a visceral appreciation for the application of natural elements which is later devolved and adulterated by a pursuance of the scientific method which promotes a moral downfall. The narrative associates a type of evil mysticism and supernaturalism to the art of science as if it were a fallible and unfounded power, a pagan religion, which only converts the world-weary man into the troubled man.

            This representation of all experimental and empirical methods as an unreliable form of pseudoscientific pursuit is matched by the field of alchemy. Alchemy represents a perfect embodiment of the scientific criticisms of the Romantic movement. The object of alchemy is entirely unattainable, thus an indulgence in its practice would reflect the presumption of the ability to achieve the impossible-again a reference emphasizing the thematic recurrence of man’s hubris. Alchemy also maintains a negative connotation, associated with witchcraft and an intensely rudimentary demonic spirituality.

            Romanticists believed that the innocence of childhood, as paralleled by Victor’s early interest in the natural world, was to be later diluted and corrupted by cultural and societal conventions; in the 1800s social hierarchy was integral. An increased elevation in the hierarchal scale suggested a less primitive and rural familiarity with nature, thus it would exemplify a match to divine power over nature which for Romanticists was a demented status. Victor Frankenstein’s access to scientific literature demonstrates the ease of corruption with regards to status in the higher class. Thus science is automatically paralleled with false godhood.