Her Childhood and Family:
1. Loss of Mother: Mary's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, died shortly after her birth. This deep personal loss may have influenced her understanding of the themes of life, death, and the desire to create life.
2. Intellectual Atmosphere: Mary grew up in an intellectual household surrounded by prominent thinkers and writers, including her father, William Godwin. This intellectual environment exposed her to ideas about philosophy, science, and politics, which she incorporated into her novel.
Personal Experiences:
1. Illness and Pain: Mary Shelley experienced several illnesses throughout her life, including depression. Her understanding of physical and emotional suffering likely fueled the anguish and torment experienced by Frankenstein's monster.
2. Romantic Relationships: Mary's relationship with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was complex and passionate. The theme of love, desire, and the consequences of unchecked passion are all explored in Frankenstein, reflecting her personal experiences.
Intellectual Influences:
1. Scientific Developments: Mary was fascinated by the scientific advancements of her time, including galvanism, which explores the effect of electricity on dead organisms. This scientific interest inspired the central concept of reanimating the creature in the novel.
2. Literary Influences: Mary drew inspiration from Gothic and Romantic literature, incorporating elements such as the supernatural, sublime, and the exploration of the human condition.
Political and Philosophical Views:
1. Social Criticism: Mary's novel reflects her critique of society, particularly the themes of ambition, the destructive power of knowledge, and the alienation of the individual in a rapidly changing world.
2. Women's Rights: As a woman writer in a male-dominated society, Mary Shelley explores themes of gender roles, motherhood, and the limits placed on women's creativity.
In conclusion, Mary Shelley's personal experiences, relationships, intellectual influences, and political views all contributed to the creation of Frankenstein, making it a complex and multi-layered work that reflects her unique perspective and insights into the human condition.