Social Context

It was in this way that Mary was introduced to the social tensions between the Romantic and Enlightenment movements. Frankenstein delivers an assessment of this conflict through exploring the consequences of favouring one ideal entirely over the other; Victor, as an Enlightened individual, was obsessed with gaining knowledge and discovering the secrets of nature, whereas the Creature served as an embodiment of Romantic beliefs with his idealistic views and intuition. Essentially, Shelley’s text intends to address the dominating conflict of her era. It is not, as some may claim, “anti-science,” but it instead reveals the importance of achieving moderation in the acquisition of knowledge, to prevent disobeying the immutable laws of nature. Shelley is ultimately advocating that a balance between the two ideals would lead to a more successful and productive society.