"Frankenstein" and Science

Description: 

While Frankenstein is a story that explains the human condition, it is also a result of Mary Shelley having an interest in science as she was growing up. She read about it and also attended lectures to learn more about science. As an example, she was aware of studies from William Abernathy and William Lawrence that had to do with human life forces and the origins. William Abernathy believed that a spark could bring someone to life, which is where one could see inspiration for Frankenstein as Victor brought a spark to bring his creature to life. Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is known for being one of the first science-fiction novels. This story deals with the consequences of Victor Frankenstein's actions, after his attempt to create life as a result of his God complex. On top of this, he grew up in Geneva, where science is highly valued. As examples, some science-based organizations reside in Geneva such as the World Meteorological Organization alongside the European Organization for Nuclear Research. This novel overall has a combination of psychological elements such as Frankenstein's God-complex and lack of parenting, and how it affects the creature, but the novel also takes inspiration from Shelley's interest in science as she was growing up. 

Cranston, Maurice, and Guichonnet, Paul. "Geneva." Britannica, 21 April, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Geneva-Switzerland.

Crowson, Katie. "The Science Behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." Science Museum, 31 Oct, 2023, https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/the-science-behind-mary-shelleys-frank....

Hodan, George. Laboratory Glassware. Public Domain Pictures, https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=45298&pictu....

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Edited by Michael Bérubé, W. W. Norton, 2021.

Associated Place(s)

Layers

Timeline of Events Associated with "Frankenstein" and Science

Mary Shelley is Born

30 Aug 1797

File:Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Rothwell.tif

Mary Shelley was born on August 30th, 1797. She was the daugher of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin and is widely known as the author of Frankenstein, which hugely contributed to the development of the science-fiction genre. She was a Romantic novelist, and some of her other works include The Last Man, Falkner, Valperga, The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck, and Lodore. She also married Percy Shelley who was a poet, and she also spent her life publishing Percy Shelley's works after his passing. She also had a son by the name of Percy Florence Shelley, who she spent time educating. Frankenstein itself has themes in regards to the very theme of what makes us human. While the creature is not human, it desires one thing that many other humans also desire: connection. On top of that, the creature was abandoned by it's own creator which adds to the tragic backstory that leads to the creature's desire of wanting connection. 

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Edited by Michael Bérubé, W. W. Norton, 2021. 

Kuiper, Kathleen. "Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley." Britannica, 20 Mar, 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/M…;

Rothwell, Richard. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. 1840. Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil…....

Mary Shelley is Born

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Part of Group:

Artist: 

  • George Hodan

Image Date: 

circa. 21st century