Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley is best known for being the author of the classic novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, which was first published in 1818. Born in London England in 1797, she was the only daughter of two extremely prominent writers, William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. Her mother was a feminist and her father a radical philosopher and novelist. Growing up, her home was filled with people of the Enlightenment period, which heavily influenced the literature that she produced in her adulthood.

At the young age of 18, Mary Shelley married a man nearly a decade her senior, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The couple moved to Switzerland, where in 1816 they had a son. Following in the footsteps of her parents, she became writing very early in life, and it was while living in Switzerland that she penned her first book, the novel Frankenstein. Described as the first modern science fiction novel, the book delved deeply into the implications of science tampering with nature.

The plot revolves around a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who has an extreme interest in the workings of the natural world. Taking the theories of Enlightenment thinkers, he meddles with the forces of life and death, creating a creature that he ultimately abandons. This monster, who is highly intelligent but physically deformed, becomes a tool used by the scientist to express his fears of overstepping the boundaries of scientific knowledge.

Mary Shelley was able to deliver a thoughtful exploration of the ethical implications of science through her novel. It has become an important piece of literature because of the questions it raises about the limits of science and the responsibilities that anyone who engages in science must consider. It is for this reason that critics consider Frankenstein to be an excellent piece of literature, and a work that stands the test of time.

In addition to Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's other accomplishments include several fiction novels, poems, and essays. Her work has had a profound influence on other authors, especially in the science fiction and horror genres. She was an important part of the Romantic movement and many of her works discussed the elements of the sublime, particularly focused in nature.

Beyond being a well-known author, Mary Shelley also advocated for several political causes. She was a strong believer in the progressivism of her day and championed the causes of equality and social justice. She was one of the first people to suggest that humans had the right to live without fear of bias and prejudice, regardless of the race or gender.

Towards the end of her life, Mary Shelley traveled to Italy and continued to write even though her health was deteriorating. By 1851, she had a cerebral haemorrhage and passed away at the age of 54. Although she was not alone in advocating for social justice, Mary Shelley was certainly unafraid to stand up for what she believed in and to express her views through her writing. Her talent and ambitious social beliefs have resonated throughout the centuries and will continue to inspire generations to come.