How Does Mary Shelley Use Imagination In Frankenstein
Imagination vs. Obsession in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the author expresses how man can lose touch with reality, which leads to becoming a victim of his own imagination. Since Romantic writers, like Shelley, exalted the power of imagination, Shelley criticizes this ideal by showing how it may lead to obsession. The influence of Mary Shelley’s parents, other writers, such as her husband Percy Shelley and Byron, and the use of Gothic novel literature help her emphasize imagination, the concern with the particular, the value of the individual human being, and the supernatural. Mary Shelley’s parents were famous writers and intellectuals in England. Her father was a philosopher
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Shelley tells us about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who is eccentric and believes he is the only man who can create man. She uses this character to “mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world”. The author expresses Frankenstein’s ambition and high self-esteem at the beginning of Chapter IV of the novel when Victor says, “My application was at first fluctuating and uncertain; it gained strength as I proceeded, and soon became so ardent and eager.”(p.588) The fact that Frankenstein makes this statement demonstrates that his pride is taking over reality. Frankenstein also believes he can create what is supernatural, as if he is God. This is shown when he tells us, “Unless I had been animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been irksome, and almost intolerable.”(p.589) Shelley is telling us how man thinks he can be superior when imagining, which leads to obsession. Shelley keeps telling us about Frankenstein’s pride and egocentrism when the scientist says, “among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the same science, that I should alone be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.”(p.589) Frankenstein is already losing his mind because of the supernatural ability he has, and starts losing touch with reality. Shelley is now making us see how Frankenstein
Shelley tells us about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who is eccentric and believes he is the only man who can create man. She uses this character to “mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world”. The author expresses Frankenstein’s ambition and high self-esteem at the beginning of Chapter IV of the novel when Victor says, “My application was at first fluctuating and uncertain; it gained strength as I proceeded, and soon became so ardent and eager.”(p.588) The fact that Frankenstein makes this statement demonstrates that his pride is taking over reality. Frankenstein also believes he can create what is supernatural, as if he is God. This is shown when he tells us, “Unless I had been animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been irksome, and almost intolerable.”(p.589) Shelley is telling us how man thinks he can be superior when imagining, which leads to obsession. Shelley keeps telling us about Frankenstein’s pride and egocentrism when the scientist says, “among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the same science, that I should alone be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.”(p.589) Frankenstein is already losing his mind because of the supernatural ability he has, and starts losing touch with reality. Shelley is now making us see how Frankenstein