Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, published in 1818, is a cornerstone of Gothic literature and is often regarded as the first science fiction novel. Facts about Frankenstein highlight its enduring impact on literature and its reflection on the scientific and personal contexts of Shelley’s time.
Here are five intriguing facts about Frankenstein:
1. Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was just 18 years old. (Source)
The novel was first published anonymously in 1818, with Shelley’s name appearing in the second edition in 1821.
2. Mary Shelley’s inspiration came from a dream. (Source)
The concept of Frankenstein came to Shelley in a vivid dream. She envisioned a scientist who created life and was horrified by his creation, which became the foundation for her novel.
3. The novel was heavily influenced by personal tragedy. (Source)
Shelley’s personal experiences with loss, including the death of her first child shortly after birth, profoundly influenced the themes of creation and death in “Frankenstein.”
4. Frankenstein introduced the possibility of organ transplant before it was scientifically possible. (Source)
Doctor Frankenstein used limbs and organs from dead humans to form his living creature in an act that resembled an organ transplant. But organ transplants wouldn’t be possible until over a century later, in 1954.
5. Many people can’t identify the true Frankenstein. (Source) A common misconception is that “Frankenstein” refers to the monster; however, in the novel, Victor Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the creature, who remains unnamed.
Image by Etienne Marais from Pixabay.
