Mary Shelley is best known for her novel "Frankenstein," but she was also a prolific essayist. Her essays cover a wide range of topics, from literature and philosophy to politics and social issues. If you are studying Mary Shelley or her work, you may be looking for essay topics that ...Read More
Mary Shelley is best known for her novel "Frankenstein," but she was also a prolific essayist. Her essays cover a wide range of topics, from literature and philosophy to politics and social issues. If you are studying Mary Shelley or her work, you may be looking for essay topics that will allow you to explore her ideas and writing style in more depth. In this article, we have compiled a long list of essay topics related to Mary Shelley and her work, along with some advice on choosing a topic and writing a compelling essay.
The Importance of the Topic
Mary Shelley's essays provide valuable insight into her thoughts, beliefs, and intellectual pursuits. They also shed light on the historical and cultural context in which she lived and wrote. By exploring her essays, you can gain a deeper understanding of Shelley as a writer and thinker, as well as the issues that were important to her. Whether you are interested in literature, philosophy, feminism, or social justice, there is a Mary Shelley essay topic that will allow you to engage with her ideas and contribute to the ongoing conversation about her work.
Advice on Choosing a Topic
When choosing a Mary Shelley essay topic, it is important to consider your own interests and expertise, as well as the scope of the assignment. If you are writing a research paper, you may want to choose a topic that allows you to explore a specific aspect of Shelley's life or work in detail. If you are writing a shorter essay, you may want to choose a topic that is more focused and manageable. Consider the themes that are most relevant to your course or program of study, and think about how you can use Shelley's essays to contribute to the existing scholarship on her work.
Here are a few tips for choosing a Mary Shelley essay topic:
Consider the historical and cultural context in which Shelley lived and wrote. How did these factors influence her writing and thinking?
Think about the themes that are most important to you and how they are represented in Shelley's essays. For example, you may be interested in exploring her ideas about feminism, the role of women in society, or the nature of creativity.
Look for connections between Shelley's essays and her other works, such as "Frankenstein" or her other novels and stories. How do her essays shed light on her fiction, and vice versa?
Consider the critical reception of Shelley's essays and how they have been interpreted by scholars and critics. Are there any controversies or debates that you could engage with in your essay?
Finally, consider your own strengths and interests as a writer. What aspects of Shelley's work do you find most compelling, and how can you use your essay to make a unique contribution to the conversation about her work?
Mary Shelley's essays offer a wealth of material for exploration and analysis. Whether you are interested in literature, philosophy, feminism, or social justice, there is a Mary Shelley essay topic that will allow you to engage with her ideas and contribute to the ongoing conversation about her work. By choosing a topic that is relevant to your interests and expertise, you can write a compelling essay that sheds new light on Shelley's life and work. We hope that this long list of essay topics will inspire you to explore Mary Shelley's essays in more depth and contribute to the ongoing scholarship about her work.
The Last Man by Mary Shelley is a novel that often slips under the radar when discussing the monumental works of 19th-century literature. Written in 1826, this dystopian tale not only highlights Shelley's knack for weaving complex emotional narratives but also showcases her deep engagement...
In the very act of composing a novel, a writer sets out on a quest, in many ways, to discover some fraction of their true self, whether large or small. Within each novel readers indulge in attempting to uncover these shreds of the authors actual...
The creation of life is a cautionary metaphor for the advancement of science in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Today, however, this type of life-generating science is commonplace. It does not take place in the laboratory of a mad scientist, but in sterile and advanced research facilities....
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein reveals the uncanny defamiliarization of the natural part of the general public. The creature, a making of Victor Frankenstein’s frenzy is utilized to affirm this. The monsters ghastly appearance is the reason of society’s loath towards it, thus it is addressed with...
Frankenstein consists of various literary devices and describes different qualities and social perspectives. The tale intensely rotates around various individual aspects in Mary Shelley’s life. Perusing the novel through a women’s activist lense, it’s intriguing to break down how this perspective identifies with Mary Shelley’s...
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, written in the 19th century tells the story of a monster created by Victor Frankenstein who is abandoned at birth. When examining this novel from the lens of a feminist literary perspective, we can clearly read how the novel shows us the...
Different authors have different intentions for authoring their books. Whereas some write to expand literature and demonstrate literal techniques, others write to communicate on a specific issue either directly or indirectly. In a way, therefore, although writing is an art it is more or less...
Author Mary Shelley uses the creature in her book Frankenstein to depict the dangers of humans creating artificial intelligence. Shelley presents these ideas through using Victor Frankenstein as a creator of a new species of life, and the creature as a naive, fiendish artificial intelligence....
As a professor of psychology and the author of numerous books examining various psychological elements in pop culture mainstays within the science fiction genre, Sherri Ginn seems more than qualified to offer an insightful analysis of both science fact and science fiction within the narrative...
In the early 1800s, tense relationships between Europe and the rest of the world greatly impacted modern world history. In 1803, the newly formed United States nearly doubled its domain after purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France. Soon after, in 1804, Haiti won its independence...
For many, it is hard to think of the world of science and the art of literature working in tandem. In the 1800s, the discipline of natural philosophy rapidly changed due to the Enlightenment, moving toward formal sciences. Romanticism served as a backlash to the...
A branch off of feminist movements gender criticism is a literary approach that explores ideas about men and women can be influenced by cultures that attempt to correct the impression of a paternal society. The novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, provides numerous examples of...
The struggle of communication is common within society and can provoke unintentional behaviour and inadvertent situations. Such complications occur in both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones as many characters demonstrate their inability to connect with others. In Shelley’s Gothic novel, the...
In the wide spectrum of humanistic characteristics, that of desire is one of the most prominent. It is an emotion that is challenging to resist, as it tends to control many aspects of life because of the strength it possesses. In the realm of non-human...
Victor Frankenstein, a young doctor, creates a monster out of dead body parts. Shattered by his mother’s death, he becomes consumed with the idea of bringing the dead back to life. He creates a monster with no plan to take care of it, so he...
Romanticism was a school of thought that Mary Shelley was evidently familiar with. It is probable that the way in which her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley expressed his devotion to the philosophies attached to its many notions, inadvertently influenced her perception of existence and the...
From its outset, Frankenstein establishes a link between the procuring of knowledge, or the uncovering of secrets, and evil. Walton’s sister’s ‘evil forebodings’ that surround his attempt to reach the North Pole, pointed out in the very first sentence, signal immediately not only the dangers...
1. Introduction Critics agree that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a story exploring themes such as creation, revenge, and individual ambition—or lack thereof. Largely overlooked is the presence of forgiveness and how certain characters manifest it, seek it, or adamantly deny it. Discussing forgiveness may be...
In Mary Shelley’s classic horror story Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is an ambitious scientist who is fascinated by the creation of life. In his studies, he discovers “the secret of life.” Dr. Frankenstein makes a scientific breakthrough in his creation of the monster, but at what...
As the subtitle of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein implies, the tragic tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation takes elements of classical myth and reinterprets them through the advances of “modern” science. Against the backdrop of the Scientific Revolution, Shelley’s novel confronts perennial dilemmas that have...
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein follows one man’s dangerous obsession with reanimating the dead. In his efforts to create a living human, Dr. Victor Frankenstein ironically loses his humanity. He becomes obsessed, cruel, and treats his own creation with contempt and hatred. Dr. Frankenstein never...
To create a living being, one must teach and guide them through life. Victor Frankenstein put together parts from formerly living people to create a new life form. Throughout the book, the monster is getting constantly pushed away from society getting put further into isolation...
Exclusively raising opposition to commonplace phenomena can only go as far as just that: talk of a new contrary, and usually unwanted, opinion. The crucial ingredient in making a significant impact with a foreign idea is to make a claim so inconspicuous, that a person...
Humans are emotional and fears, anxieties, desires, and ultimately become monsters. In all societies, people organize themselves and others into groups or categories based on the social classes, physical features, languages, religions, etc. Along with categories, society comes with a set of social norms as...
Introduction Frankenstein, the name of a monster, raises a fundamental question: who is the real monster? Frankenstein is a novel written by British author Mary Shelley in 1818. Victor Frankenstein is a biologist with a fervent interest in the origin of life. He frequents morgues...
More often than not, an author’s personal life translates into their stories. Whether it is done subconsciously or on purpose, their experiences paint a more colorful, vivid picture, and thus convey a stronger message to the reader. Perhaps, Mary Shelley’s own troubled family experience translates...
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was destined to be an enigma. She was born August 30, 1797 in Somers Town, England to two highly intellectual, unorthodox, but profoundly influential parents. Her father, William, was a historian, journalist, and philosophist. He was a champion of utilitarianism, an advocate...
The story begins when a sea captain named Walton saved Victor Frankenstein’s life, then Victor Frankenstein starts remembering in flashback what happened to him. As a young man, Victor left his home to achieve his aspiration in studying science. During his studies, he decided to...
The moment in which Frankenstein attempts to conceive his own creation is a fundamental allegory within the novel. This passage – the conception of Frankenstein’s monster – in fact represents Victor’s botched attempt at bypassing the role of women in society. Similarly, his fear of...
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” considered a groundbreaking work of the 19th century, stands as a classic in modern horror literature. Within the narrative’s intricate tapestry, numerous themes emerge, but the two that most prominently dominate the novel are feminism and religion. This essay aims to delve...
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction.
Works
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s best-known book is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818, revised 1831). She wrote several other novels, including Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826), The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck (1830), Lodore (1835), and Falkner (1837), and a travel book, History of a Six Weeks’ Tour (1817).
Themes
Mary Shelley makes full use of themes that were popular during the time she wrote Frankenstein. She is concerned with the use of knowledge for good or evil purposes, the invasion of technology into modern life, the treatment of the poor or uneducated, and the restorative powers of nature in the face of unnatural events.
Legacy
Although she endured a hard life and witnessed many deaths, Mary Shelley influenced the world with her famous novel Frankenstein, her dedication to popularize her husband's work, her other great novels and writings and her independent and unconventional nature.
Quotes
“No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”
“The beginning is always today.”
“Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void but out of chaos.”
