Mary Shelley, English novelist and playwright (b. 1797)

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: A Pioneering Voice in Literature and Philosophy

Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on 30 August 1797 in Somers Town, London, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (who passed away on 1 February 1851 at the age of 53) emerged as a seminal English novelist. She is primarily renowned for her groundbreaking Gothic novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, published in 1818. This masterpiece is not only a cornerstone of Gothic literature but is also widely celebrated as one of the earliest and most influential examples of science fiction. Its enduring themes—including the ethical implications of scientific ambition, the dangers of unchecked creation, societal prejudice, and the profound responsibilities of a creator towards their creation—have resonated through generations, inspiring countless theatrical productions, films, and cultural interpretations across various media.

Beyond her own literary achievements, Shelley dedicated significant effort to editing, promoting, and preserving the literary legacy of her husband, the celebrated Romantic poet and philosopher, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her intellectual lineage was equally remarkable: her father was William Godwin, a prominent utilitarian and anarchist political philosopher, and her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, a pioneering philosopher and ardent feminist activist, famously known for her 1792 treatise, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. This profound intellectual heritage undeniably shaped Mary Shelley's own progressive views and literary endeavours.

Early Life, Education, and Personal Challenges

Tragically, Mary Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, died less than a month after giving birth to her, succumbing to puerperal fever. Consequently, Mary was raised by her father, William Godwin, who, despite his unconventional approach, provided her with a rich and intellectually stimulating, albeit informal, education. She grew up exposed to his vast library and the frequent visits of leading intellectuals and radicals of the era, fostering an environment where she was encouraged to engage with his anarchist political theories and develop a fiercely independent mind. However, her early life also presented considerable domestic challenges. When she was four years old, her father married Mary Jane Clairmont, a neighbour with her own children. Mary Shelley's relationship with her stepmother was notably strained and often fraught with tension, contributing to a difficult home environment.

In 1814, at just sixteen years old, Mary began a scandalous romance with Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of her father's devoted political followers, who was already married with children. This controversial relationship led to their elopement, as Mary, accompanied by her stepsister, Claire Clairmont, left England with Percy for France. Their journey took them through war-torn Europe, including the picturesque landscapes of the Rhine and Switzerland. Upon their eventual return to England, Mary was pregnant with Percy's child. The ensuing two years proved profoundly challenging, marked by severe social ostracism, constant financial hardship and indebtedness, and the devastating loss of their prematurely born daughter, Clara (born in 1815). They faced further tragedy with the death of their son, William, in 1819. Despite these immense difficulties, Mary and Percy finally married in late 1816, following the suicide of Percy Shelley's first wife, Harriet.

The Genesis of Frankenstein and Life in Italy

The summer of 1816, often referred to as the "Year Without a Summer" due to widespread climate abnormalities caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora, became a pivotal period in literary history. The Shelleys, along with Mary's stepsister Claire Clairmont, famously spent this inclement summer near Geneva, Switzerland, at the Villa Diodati, in the company of the eminent Lord Byron and his personal physician, John William Polidori. Trapped indoors by persistent bad weather, they engaged in discussions on galvanism and the nature of life, eventually challenging each other to write a ghost story. It was during this creative exchange that Mary Shelley, haunted by a "waking dream," conceived the foundational idea for her monumental novel, Frankenstein. Polidori, inspired by the same challenge, also famously penned The Vampyre, an early work of vampire fiction.

In 1818, the Shelleys embarked on a significant move, leaving Britain for Italy, a land that would bring both immense joy and profound sorrow. While there, they experienced further heartbreaking losses with the deaths of their second and third children, Clara Everina (in 1818) and William (in 1819), deepening Mary's lifelong struggles with grief. Amidst these tragedies, she gave birth to her last and only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley, in 1819, who would later ensure the preservation of his parents' legacy. The couple's time in Italy concluded abruptly and tragically in 1822 when Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned. His sailing boat, the Don Juan, sank during a violent storm near Viareggio, off the coast of Italy. His body was later recovered and cremated on a beach, in a poignant ceremony attended by Lord Byron and Leigh Hunt.

Return to England and a Prolific Literary Career

A year after her husband's death, a resilient Mary Shelley returned to England in 1823. From that point forward, she devoted herself entirely to the upbringing and education of her son, Percy Florence, and to building a sustainable career as a professional author. Her determination ensured her son received a good education, and he would eventually inherit a baronetcy. The final decade of Mary Shelley's life, however, was sadly plagued by debilitating illness, most likely caused by the brain tumour which ultimately claimed her life at the relatively young age of 53.

Reassessing Mary Shelley's Enduring Legacy

For many years, until the resurgence of feminist literary scholarship in the 1970s, Mary Shelley's reputation was largely confined to her efforts in promoting and publishing her husband's works and, of course, for her iconic novel Frankenstein. However, recent academic inquiry has profoundly shifted this perspective, yielding a more comprehensive and appreciative view of Shelley's diverse achievements and her significant contributions to literature and thought. Scholars have shown increasing interest in her broader literary output, recognizing her as a formidable writer in her own right, whose works explored complex social, philosophical, and political themes. Her notable novels include the historical novels Valperga (1823), set in medieval Italy, and The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck (1830), which examines identity and political intrigue. She also penned the profoundly influential apocalyptic novel The Last Man (1826), a pioneering work in dystopian fiction that imagines a future devastated by plague, and her final two significant novels, Lodore (1835) and Falkner (1837), which delve into themes of family, societal expectations, and individual freedom.

Studies of her lesser-known but equally significant works, such as the evocative travel book Rambles in Germany and Italy (1844) and her extensive biographical articles for Dionysius Lardner's influential Cabinet Cyclopaedia (published between 1829 and 1846), further support the growing scholarly consensus that Shelley remained a deeply committed political radical throughout her life, subtly weaving her convictions into her narratives. Unlike the individualistic Romantic ethos often championed by her husband, Percy Shelley, or the more abstract Enlightenment political theories articulated by her father, William Godwin, Mary Shelley's works consistently advocated for cooperation and sympathy. She powerfully argued that these virtues, particularly as practiced by women within the domestic sphere and extended into civil society, were the most effective and humane ways to achieve societal reform and moral progress. This perspective offered a nuanced and profound challenge to the dominant male-centric philosophical currents of her era.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Shelley

What is Mary Shelley's most famous work?

Mary Shelley is most renowned for her Gothic novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is widely considered a foundational work of science fiction.

When was Frankenstein published?

Frankenstein was first published anonymously in 1818. A revised edition, bearing Mary Shelley's name, was published in 1831.

Who were Mary Shelley's parents?

Mary Shelley was the daughter of two prominent intellectuals: William Godwin, a political philosopher, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a pioneering feminist philosopher and activist.

How did Mary Shelley conceive the idea for Frankenstein?

The idea for Frankenstein originated during the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816, when Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori were staying near Geneva, Switzerland. Due to bad weather, they stayed indoors and challenged each other to write ghost stories, leading to Shelley's famous creation.

What were some of Mary Shelley's other significant literary works?

Beyond Frankenstein, Mary Shelley authored several other notable novels, including the historical novels Valperga (1823) and The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck (1830), the apocalyptic novel The Last Man (1826), and her later works Lodore (1835) and Falkner (1837). She also wrote the travelogue Rambles in Germany and Italy (1844) and numerous biographical articles.

What were Mary Shelley's unique political and philosophical views?

Mary Shelley's works often emphasized the importance of cooperation and sympathy, particularly as virtues practiced by women within the family and extended to civil society. She believed these were key to social reform, a view that diverged from the more individualistic philosophies of her father, William Godwin, and her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley.