Cultural Context

Across the globe, revolutions and movements shaped the 19th century society that Shelley grew up in, though on a more personal level, the text was written when the idea of migration and foreigners was fairly new. Through the horrible experiences of the Creature as the symbol of the other entirely shunned by society, Shelley evokes a sympathy from her readership that stimulates a very romantic but modern outlook on migration. She clearly encourages her audiences to both understand and work to accept those who look, act or think differently to themselves, as opposed to flatly excluding them.