Similarities Between King George III And Frankenstein's Madness

Dejected by the loss to the American Revolutionary War, George III lost the land acquired overseas and his mental stability. Later on, it was said that he suffered from porphyria, experiencing hallucinations, eventually leading up to his doomed derangement in 1788. The king’s psychotic perception not only mirrors Victor’s maniacal mind, but also paints the setting for Frankenstein, acting as a catalyst to an era of unorthodox vision, pandemonium, and creativity. In the early-to-mid 1700s, literature revolved upon concepts that were “driven by ideas, events, and reason”(“Enlightenment and Romanticism: a Comparison”). This period of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Enlightenment, was stimulated by social events that required reform and restructure. This was propelled by theoretical stimulation and philosophical ideology, expanding the boundaries of what was concrete into those ideas that seemed preposterous to achieve or even imagine. Romanticism can be seen as a refurbishment of the Enlightenment era. In essence, this time saw a radical change of which motivation arose from “character, emotions, and passion”(“ Enlightenment and Romanticism: a Comparison”), leading into an unsophisticated, almost “primal” manner of writing. Therefore, characters in

In the beginning of the novel, Victor is seen as a proactive scientist who intrigues upon the development of life. The creation of the monster, however, causes Victor to shower himself with dishonor, degradation, and contempt. This is due to a lack of mental stability, of which he proclaimed that the monster “saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account”(Shelley 64). As a definite sign of insanity, this strikes resemblance to King George III and the start of his manic episodes, an involuntary deranged response to the unpredictable-climax of the Revolutionary

Perhaps Shelley integrated Victor 's qualities from George III life. The evidence and explanation presented leans towards the second argument. Shelley 's Frankenstein spurred from originality and innovation, but historical events as those presented clearly show deep connection with King George III 's insanity. It may seem trivial, but other ideas portrayed in the novel may also be subject to “piggy-backing” on other events in within the dynamic time