The Frankenstein Unit Mary Shelley’s background (August 30, 1797-February 1, 1851) Born on August 30 th 1797. Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft a famous feminist author who died 11 days after giving birth to Mary Father: William Godwin A famous 19 th century philosopher who believed in the rights of the individual. Shelley’s marriage • At 15 years of age Mary met her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley , a disciple of William Godwin and a famous poet. • Despite being previously married to another woman, Percy Bysshe Shelley convinces Mary to elope with him in France when she was 17. The Making of Frankenstein • On 19 March 1815 Shelley recorded in her journal, after the death of her first child: "Dream that my little baby came to life again-- that it had only been cold & that we rubbed it before the fire & it lived." Byron’s Challenge • In the summer of 1816 , Percy and Mary visit Lord Byron’s estate in France. • The summer of 1816 had fall like weather because a massive volcano in Indonesia spewed ash around the world. • Because of the gloomy weather, Byron issued a challenge to his guests to create the best horror story . The Publishing of Frankenstein • At Byron’s estate, Mary has a dream about a man who plans to bring life to the dead. • She turns her idea into a story and is encouraged by her husband to turn the story into a novel. • In 1818, Shelley publishes the novel at the age of 19. The Title of the Novel • The name “Frankenstein” originates not from the Creature, but the Creator, Victor Frankenstein. • Victor, like Shelley, suffers the loss of many loved ones at an early age. • He creates his creature as a way to bring back the dead. The Doppelganger • The story is a Doppelganger, or German word for “double image.” • Both the Creature and Victor mirror each other in their effort to destroy the other. • The Doppelganger represents a divided self, or two alter egos who are more alike than different. Famous Doppelgangers • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde • Batman and the Joker • Bruce Banner and The Incredible Hulk • James Bond and Blofeld • Mario and Donkey Kong • Optimus Prime and Megatron The Modern Prometheus • Mary Shelley’s subtitle for Frankenstein is “The Modern Prometheus” • In Greek Mythology, the titan Prometheus stole fire from the sun and gave it to humanity. • This angered the Greek god Zeus who did not want humans to control fire. • He was punished by being chained to a lake while an eagle would feast on his liver. • The Prometheus Myth has become a metaphor of what happens when humans get a hold of something they cannot control and reach beyond their ability. The Creature • Unlike the Hollywood stereotype, the Creature is an intelligent being whose rage stems from his neglect from Victor. Themes in the Novel 1. Personal Responsibility: Are we responsible for our own actions? 2. Responsibility to Others: Are we responsible for the actions of others? 3. Recreate the Past: Can we reshape the past? The Hollywood Stereotype • James Whale directed the 1931 film Frankenstein where our image of the Creature comes from. • In the film, a mad scientists creates a creature with little intelligence who rages against humanity. The Cultural Myth • There are over 100 films about Frankenstein. • Frankenstein has been used to sell merchandise such as Twix candy bars, Levi’s Jeans, Coca-Cola, Frankenberry Cereal, M&Ms , Penzoil, and Pez. Favorite Titles of Frankenstein Movies • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs. Dracula” • “Frankenstein: the College Years” • “Blackenstein” Films, Films, Films Oh My! Because the myth of Frankenstein has become such a part of our pop culture we will be watching clips from various versions of “Frankenstein.” Read the Book, then the Sparknotes! I realize there are websites like Sparknotes that summarize the book, please use this as a resource. To pass you must read the book!!! .