This essay deals with Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein", written in 1818. In this time a highly controversial discussion started about living entities containing a kind of vital spirit or not and how it is related to electricity and chemistry. The two main positions are on the one hand the vitalists and on the other the materialists. Vitalism consists of the supposition that every living source owns a vital force which brings life into them. It is supposed that a soul was infused into the body by a power like God via electricity and the fact that they contain this sort of energy makes them different from non- living entities.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Vitalism and Materialism
2. Genesis and Themes of Frankenstein
3. Vitalist Perspectives in the Narrative
4. Religious and Scientific Underpinnings
5. Vitalism and the Reanimation Controversy
6. Materialist Counterarguments and Scientific Context
7. Conclusion and Final Interpretation
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze Mary Shelley's Frankenstein within the historical tension between the vitalist and materialist philosophical schools of the early 19th century, ultimately arguing that the narrative predominantly advocates for vitalist principles.
- Historical conflict between vitalism and materialism
- Scientific and philosophical influences of Galvani, Davy, and Lawrence
- The role of the "spark of life" and reanimation in the narrative
- Victor Frankenstein’s development and the creature’s moral autonomy
- The interplay between religious faith and scientific discovery
Excerpt from the Book
Vitalist Perspectives in the Narrative
Frankenstein contains a huge amount of reasons that indicate the position of this book supporting the vitalist philosophy. First of all, the young Viktor Frankenstein read many texts about this topic as an infant (“In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa”; “[...] my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight [...]”), but more interesting and convincing for the theory of vitalism is Frankenstein’s monsters personality, its features and its great rhetorical skills.
The literary figure is able to think autonomous and also to question itself, so it obviously must own some kind of moral (“They were not entirely happy. The young man and his companion often went apart, and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it.”). This leads to the supposition that it might have a soul or other sort of spiritual power, in fact it is a living entity with feelings and emotions, no matter how cruel or horrifying it is, even when it dies it shows strong emotions.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to Vitalism and Materialism: This chapter outlines the primary conflict between the vitalist view of a divine spark and the materialist view of life as a purely physical mechanism.
2. Genesis and Themes of Frankenstein: An overview of the novel's origins, detailing Mary Shelley's inspirations and the core plot involving Victor Frankenstein and his creation.
3. Vitalist Perspectives in the Narrative: This section explores how the character of the monster, through its moral complexity and emotional depth, serves as an argument for the existence of a soul or vital essence.
4. Religious and Scientific Underpinnings: Examines the connection between the creature's existential crises, biblical parallels, and the broader attempt to reconcile faith with scientific advancement.
5. Vitalism and the Reanimation Controversy: Focuses on the role of electricity and the experimental influence of Luigi Galvani and Humphry Davy in the context of life and death.
6. Materialist Counterarguments and Scientific Context: Discusses the opposing view, highlighting the influence of natural philosophers like M. Krempe and the mechanical perception of the human body.
7. Conclusion and Final Interpretation: Synthesizes the arguments to conclude that the text functions as a defense of vitalist philosophy in the face of contemporary materialist trends.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Vitalism, Materialism, Reanimation, Electricity, Luigi Galvani, Humphry Davy, Soul, Scientific Controversy, Moral Autonomy, Romanticism, Philosophy, Nature of Life, Narrative Interpretation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this essay?
The essay explores the philosophical debate between vitalism and materialism in the early 19th century as represented through the themes and character dynamics in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
What are the primary thematic areas?
Key areas include the definition of life, the impact of scientific experimentation on ethics, the religious implications of reanimation, and the nature of consciousness and the soul.
What is the primary research goal?
The objective is to interpret whether Frankenstein acts as a proponent for either vitalist or materialist philosophies based on textual evidence and historical context.
Which scientific methodology is discussed in the text?
The text focuses on qualitative literary analysis, examining the novel's content against historical scientific and philosophical discourses of the Romantic era.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers the origins of the novel, the internal monologue and moral evolution of the creature, and the specific influences of figures like Galvani and Davy on Shelley's writing.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Essential keywords include Vitalism, Materialism, Frankenstein, Reanimation, and Philosophy.
How does the creature's literacy influence the argument for vitalism?
The creature's ability to read and analyze literature demonstrates an intellectual and moral capacity that implies the existence of a soul, supporting the vitalist stance that life is more than just mechanical movement.
What role does electricity play in the essay's interpretation?
Electricity is presented as the bridge between materialist "dead matter" and the vitalist "spark of life," acting as the catalyst for reanimation and a focal point for the scientific debates of the time.
- Citar trabajo
- Nele de Fries (Autor), 2016, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” in relation to the debate between vitalism and materialism, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/347126
