Romanticism And Individualism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, tells the story of a man named Victor Frankenstein, who unintentionally creates a destructive monster. The story of Frankenstein sets back to the 19th century, taking place in a time where romantic and gothic novels began to intertwine. Romanticism is recognized for its emphasis on emotion and individualism while also incorporating nature. As well as romanticism, the use of gothic style is also seen in Frankenstein. The use of gothic fiction became most prevalent in the 1700’s, by combining death, fiction, horror and romance all into one story. In the novel, Victor is seen as an optimist, who hopes to create human life takes a drastic turn towards the worst. His creation of a monster, by giving life to a man with dead body parts, creates chaos and disaster. Victor’s family and loved ones face constant danger, and the result is deathly. For that reason, the character of Dr. Frankenstein and the monster can be seen as a classic Romantic Hero but also a Byronic Hero. The Byronic Hero is dark, brooding, and isolated, and someone who shows immense love for themselves. A Romantic Hero, on the other

He is so caught up in the idea of his new creation, that he ignores the danger he puts everyone else is. One of the main qualities of the Byronic Hero is to be isolated and self-absorbed. Victor is so obsessed with his discoveries, that he doesn’t realize that he is hurting the people around him, until the very end when everyone is taken away from him. He isolates himself from society until he finally achieves his desires to create the monster. Mary Shelley also begins incorporating gothic literature into the novel. The idea of romance and disaster are put together, which results in murder and destruction. The major turning point of the novel occurs when Victor’s fiancee, Elizabeth, is murdered by the