The History of Literature 65 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (with Professor James Chandler)
Oct 28, 2016
Professor James Chandler, an esteemed scholar from the University of Chicago, explores the radical life of Mary Shelley and the creation of her iconic novel, Frankenstein. They delve into the tumultuous summer in Geneva that birthed the story and discuss the profound themes of horror, responsibility, and human relationships. Chandler highlights the novel's relevance amidst historical changes, contrasts interpretations of the creature, and connects Shelley’s work to Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, revealing deep insights into sympathy and social monstrosity.
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The Rainy Geneva Origin
- In 1816 Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Byron, Claire, and Polidori sheltered from rain in Geneva.
- Byron challenged them to write ghost stories, and Mary's idea of reanimated corpses emerged there.
The Shock Of Creating Life
- Mary Shelley imagined the horror of creating life as immediate terror, not triumph.
- She grasped that giving life could provoke agony and moral dread rather than pride.
Monstrosity As Social Failure
- The creature argues that sympathy and companionship are essential to being human.
- Mary Shelley frames monstrosity as potentially the result of social rejection, not innate evil.
