Enlightenment in Shelley's Frankenstein

Progress, Optimism, Fate, Happiness, and Nature in a Classic Novel

Jul 27, 2009

As a product of the Enlightenment era, Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein serves as a text rich with the ideas of the era.

The Enlightenment—a very optimistic, yet realistic, era in history—found people rallying for major changes to take place. The attitude of the Enlightenment was to question everything and think deeply about its meaning, challenging the importance and validity of tradition. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Shelley portrays ideas about progress, optimism, liberty, fate, happiness, nature, and the physical world in a manner that supports Enlightenment attitudes.

Reason and Positivity

The philosophical outlook of Enlightenment peoples was one of reason and positivity. In the third letter to his sister, Robert Walton states “success shall crown my endeavors,” and talks about his perseverance and quest for knowledge. He speaks with optimism towards his guest (Victor) in a subsequent letter, relying on positive conversations and thoughts to propel the guest out of his sadness.

With the same sort of outlook, Victor, considers opposing viewpoints on scientific matters and ponders their meaning in the same manner he has claimed to have traced the history of science and thinking. In a similar situation later on, Victor holds back a response to the criticisms of M. Krempe and M. Waldman, preferring to maintain his dignity and keep his spirits high.

Even at the end of the novel when Victor is acknowledging his failures with his monster and finally taking responsibility for his mistakes (though a bit late), he wishes goodwill upon Walton and others. The will to achieve and a positive reaction to less than positive conditions make these sections representative of the Enlightenment era.

Enlightenment and Fate

When Victor takes a moment to ponder upon a story from his youth, we get a glimpse at the Enlightenment view of fate. Victor recalls a time when he was fifteen and lightning not just split, but splintered, a tree near his house. A well researched natural philosopher just happened to be with him at the time, and when he explained the scientific concepts that had destroyed the tree, Victor immersed himself in the study of mathematics and the sciences related to mathematics.

It is no coincidence that lightning was involved in this great revelation. Shelley uses the illumination of the lightning to show the reader the light in a very literal manner, and the fact that it is destroying an “old and beautiful” oak only further goes to show an Enlightenment view of fate. The oak is a strong tree, representing age and strength, but even the mightiest oak is no match for fate.

Happiness and Optimism

Those who believed in and followed the Enlightenment period dealt with happiness as a reaction to the lack of it around them. The era lent itself to an optimistic point of view, but the realistic foundation of happiness was just as much in question as everything else in the Age of Enlightenment. To show this conflict, Shelley has Victor’s mother die in peace, being loved and lovable even up until and including the time before and after her suffering and death.

In response, Victor realizes that mourning would be an indulgence more than a necessity. He is looking forward, focusing not on her death and her lack of presence in the future, but rather acknowledging her accomplishments as a mother and a person of good valor. Later on, Victor contemplates the happiness of a village couple who appears to have it all, but is miserable. With a state of mind that is very much rooted in the Enlightenment era, Victor turns their collective happiness from a solitary achievement into a community achievement. A man alone is important, but not everything, as reason dictates.

Nature and the Physical World

The Enlightenment era’s emphasis on nature and the physical world is shown throughout Frankenstein. Early on in the novel when Victor is talking about growing up with Elizabeth in the Swiss countryside, he speaks fondly of the mountains, the seasons, and the general divinity of nature. Through this, Shelley shows not only Victor’s affinity to the Enlightenment era’s similar quest for knowledge, but filters it through the sublimity of nature.

Nature represents the most open and vast “unknown” there is, and Victor’s love of it is the manifestation of his thirst for answers. Later on, when Henry proposes a tour of the land to lift Victor’s spirits, he takes heart to nature as opposed to the earlier questioning. There is comfort achieved through the simplicity of child’s smile and the nice weather, showing the Enlightenment’s optimism again, but also revealing an appreciation for actually reaching the end goal of happiness through truth.

A Romantic Enlightmentment

From the forward thinking optimism of Victor towards his studies and the never-ending happiness through the quest for truth of the Enlightenment era, to the deep love and appreciation for nature seen by both Victor and the Enlightenment, the era of the time was prevalent throughout Frankenstein. Shelley uses her romantic viewpoint on life and her literary prowess to spin a tale rooted deeply in the Age of Enlightenment, making Frankenstein’s monster and Victor himself be embodiments of the views, opinions, and sets of beliefs of the time.

The copyright of the article Enlightenment in Shelley's Frankenstein in 18th & 19th Century British Fiction is owned by Ryan Werner. Permission to republish Enlightenment in Shelley's Frankenstein in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.