Mary Shelley, Romanticism, and <i> Frankenstein </i>

Mary Shelley’s novel was born in a contest. While staying with Lord Byron, she and Percy were invited to take part in a friendly writing competition between the three of them (there was a fourth, Dr. John Polidori, but the contest is popularly remembered between these three). You may have read in the biographies of Mary Shelley that this contest was to see who could write the best ghost story, after Lord Byron shared some of his favorites. Mary submitted what was to become chapter four of Frankenstein, the moment when Victor Frankenstein gives life to his monster. On the insistence of Percy and Lord Byron, she would then go on to write the complete novel.

What I find to be pretty astounding about this story is the sheer talent that was brought together at Lord Byron’s home. Lord Byron was kind of like the Ryan Gosling or the Brad Pitt of his day: women wanted him, and men wanted to be him. He was the poet of the time, and everything he wrote was hallmarked as wonderful. Percy Shelley was also a well known poet, and together, with Mary, they formed a sort of all-star team of writers. These three writers are considered Romantic writers, and they will help us explore the term Romanticism, and the Romantic era.