The Gothic Novel Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) is the most famous of her literary works for it has been reissued, redefined and criticised regularly since its first publication in 1818.
Johanna Smith mirrors with her statement what many critics say about Frankenstein: They define Frankenstein not only as a Gothic Novel, but as a Feminist Novel as well. Some of the feminist literary critics say that “feminist interest in Frankenstein would throw light on the novel’s darkest passages” (Fischer et al 1993, 3), others claim it is an invocation on women’s rights in general. However, all of them agree on the fact that the novel underlines the repression of women in private and public and that it criticizes the patriarchal role and dominating position of men.
In this term paper I am aiming at pointing out the arguments of feminist literary critics that define Frankenstein as a feminist novel. In order to support the thesis of Frankenstein being a feminist novel, I first want to give a definition of Feminist Literary Criticism and its branches.
After having defined Mary Shelley as a feminist (or not) and having summarized what the movement was about, I want to go into detail analyzing Shelley’s Frankenstein in feminist terms.
In my analysis I will firstly put emphasis on Anne K. Mellor’s approach to Frankenstein. She not only gave with “Mary Shelley; Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters (1988), the only full-length critical treatment of Shelley’s works in the 1980s” (Fisch et al 1993,8), but she also summarizes a lot of the arguments many feminist critics have mentioned in terms of interpreting Frankenstein. Mellor therefore provides a good basis for further examination.
Finally, in order to support and enlarge Mellor’s theory I want to introduce approaches by other critics treating the issue of feminism in Shelley’s work. These critics not only detail, object, and analyze Mellor’s statements, but they also add their own ideas. Thereby, it shall become clear if we can really label Frankenstein a Feminist Gothic Novel.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Feminist Criticism and Its Interest in Frankenstein
2.1. Feminism and Feminist Criticism
2.2. Frankenstein in Feminist Literary Criticism
3. Mary Shelley – A Feminist?
4. Anne K. Mellor’s Feminist Approach to Frankenstein
5. Mellor’s arguments in other feminist critic approaches
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper aims to evaluate Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein through the lens of feminist literary criticism. It explores whether the work can be defined as a "feminist novel" by analyzing the arguments of various scholars, with a primary focus on the critical perspectives provided by Anne K. Mellor regarding gender roles, nature, and the separation of public and private spheres.
- Theoretical definitions of Feminist Literary Criticism and its diverse branches.
- An examination of Mary Shelley's personal engagement with feminist ideology.
- In-depth analysis of Anne K. Mellor’s critique concerning female nature and scientific exploitation.
- Comparative review of other feminist scholars' arguments regarding the novel's depiction of family and gender.
- Critical discussion of homosocial relationships and the gendering of the monster.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Anne Mellor’s Feminist Approach to Frankenstein
Anne K. Mellor, professor of English and Women’s studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, published her famous anthology on Frankenstein “Mary Shelley; Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters” in the year of 1988 (cf. Schor 2003, xi). She claims that in the 1970s and early 1980s Frankenstein has become “an essential text for our exploration of female consciousness and literary technique” (Mellor 1988, xi) and she ranks herself among them who have done intense investigation on it.
Mellor puts Mary Shelley and other female authors of her time in a group that has been affected by Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Women and are therefore vindicating a revolution in ‘female manners’ and writing (cf. Fisch et al 1993, 8). This offers her the perfect ground for a feminist approach.
In the preface of her above quoted work Mellor states that Mary Shelley’s works (including Frankenstein) have for the time being been analyzed in order to get further information on her husband’s ideals and his personality (cf. ibid.). However, she has observed, recently (considering her times) Frankenstein has become of feminist interest as well.
Mellor bases her analysis of the novel on several topics. She discusses the role of nature and its destruction, she analyzes the role of female characters concerning their assigned roles and their examples to prove the opposite, she mentions political critique, and she explores the influences of female sexuality from many different perspectives. In addition, she often draws parallels to Shelley’s life, but I will put the main focus on aspects and approaches that predicate on the actual text of the novel.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the novel as a potential "feminist text" and outlines the research objective to analyze Frankenstein through various feminist literary theories.
2. Feminist Criticism and Its Interest in Frankenstein: This chapter provides a foundational overview of feminist literary theory and explains how the novel became a focal point for critics from the 1960s onwards.
3. Mary Shelley – A Feminist?: The author examines Mary Shelley's personal life and historical context to determine if she intentionally integrated feminist messages into her work.
4. Anne K. Mellor’s Feminist Approach to Frankenstein: This section details Mellor’s interpretation, focusing on her arguments regarding the exploitation of nature, the separation of spheres, and the fear of female sexuality.
5. Mellor’s arguments in other feminist critic approaches: This chapter compares Mellor’s findings with those of other scholars, debating issues such as the treatment of the De Lacey family and the gendered nature of the monster.
6. Conclusion: The paper concludes that while Mary Shelley's intentionality remains debatable, the novel is widely regarded as a significant contribution to Gothic feminism and continues to provide rich material for gender-based analysis.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Feminist Literary Criticism, Anne K. Mellor, Gothic Novel, Patriarchy, Public Sphere, Private Sphere, Gender roles, Gynocriticism, Nature, Scientific critique, Homoeroticism, De Lacey family, Female monsters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the feminist interpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, specifically investigating the arguments made by feminist critics to label the novel as a "feminist" work.
What is the primary objective regarding Mary Shelley?
The goal is to determine if Mary Shelley intended to include a feminist message in her novel or if the feminist aspects were identified by critics retrospectively.
Which specific scholar's work is highlighted in the analysis?
The paper heavily centers on the scholarship of Anne K. Mellor, particularly her book "Mary Shelley; Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters".
What scientific and environmental themes are explored?
The analysis discusses the exploitation of nature, which is attributed to female identity in the novel, and Victor Frankenstein's attempt to usurp reproductive power through technology.
How is the "separation of spheres" addressed in the text?
The paper analyzes the distinction between the male-dominated public sphere and the female-restricted private or domestic sphere within the novel's structure.
What does the paper conclude about the monster's gender?
The paper explores the theory that the monster, often assumed to be male, could be interpreted as female or genderless, reflecting a "monstrous otherness" linked to the female experience.
How does the author view the De Lacey family episode?
The author discusses the De Lacey family as an alternative, potentially more equitable society, though they also acknowledge the criticism that this family structure remains inherently unjust.
Does the paper resolve the question of Shelley's personal feminism?
The conclusion suggests that while Mary Shelley may not have actively identified as a political feminist, she expressed deep, subtle critiques of patriarchal power through her writing.
- Citation du texte
- Jana Brueske (Auteur), 2009, Feminist Aspects in Frankenstein , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/204983
