The 1818 intro is about a page and a half, describes briefly the circumstances that led to writing the book, and is dated "Marlow, September 1817" PatH
Pat, it's my understanding that the first Preface, the "Marlow, 1817" - was written by Mary's husband, Percy Shelley - the 1831 by Mary herself? I went back and reread the first one again and there was the line I had scribbled into my notes -
"The Event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by
Dr. Darwin and some physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence."
Did any of you question this first sentence written by Percy Shelley - in 1817?
The Charles Darwin was born in 1809. So.....another Darwin?
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Bookjunky, I was very aware of the insulation/isolation you speak of - but notice that the women seemed more resigned to their situation. Men seem to crave friendship and the company of others. Did you sense this? I was somewhat surprised at this - because the author is a woman. Did she comment on this resignation - and I missed it? Do we have any indication of how women felt about their situation?
Men on the other hand crave friendship - starting with Walton, who pulled Dr. F. from the sledge and literally brought him back, breathing life into him.
I'm just reminded as I type - of the story of Creation - God creating Man in his image. I grew up hearing that He did so because He was
lonely, wanted to share his Kingdom with Man.
As we talk about this bigger-than-life body Dr. Frankenstein labored over...I see "it" as
a man - (do you suppose it's anatomically correct? - or shouldn't I ask that?) Was Dr. Frankenstein also lonely - was that what drove him to "create" another being like himself. If not, what drove him to do this? What did he wish to prove? If the created being had not been so horrible, what were his plans for him? Or did he just want to prove that he had discovered the secret of life?
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Babi - I just see your post now. The image of women as fragile greenhouse flowers comes to mind. Still wonder why MaryS. does not comment on this state of affairs - or maybe she is doing just that in an understated way?
So you believe that Dr. F created what turned out to be "the monster - not as a person, but rather as an experiment to bring life to an inanimate object. He succeeded then, didn't he? Does he believe the smiling being is a
monster - or just a horrible-looking
person? I can't figure out what he intended to do with the big man - even if he had a pleasant face?