Historical Context

Both preceding and during Mary Shelley’s time, a number of revolutions took place. The American and French Revolutions threatened to put a stop to civilised living altogether, whilst the Industrial Revolution polarised communities due to the immense change it brought about. The influence of the American and French revolutions on Frankenstein are clear through the relationship between Victor and his Creature. Due to his mistreatment of the Creature, Victor ultimately suffers, because the Creature gains enough power to seek revenge on his creator, leading to a master-slave inversion where the persecuted becomes the persecutor. Through this, Shelley intends to warn readers of her time against class prejudice through demonstrating that when the lower classes are treated poorly, they rebel. Similarly, the threat that the Industrial Revolution imposed permeates through Shelley’s text. Speaking directly to those obsessed with development and growth during this period of rapid industrialisation, the Creature and the havoc he leaves in his wake act as a strong reminder of the potential dangers of industrialisation.