1. The Literary Context:
* Gothic Literature: Shelley was immersed in the Gothic genre, known for its themes of the supernatural, darkness, and the grotesque. Authors like Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, and her own mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, were key figures in this movement.
* Romanticism: The Romantic era emphasized the power of individual imagination and emotion, themes that echo throughout *Frankenstein*.
* Science and Enlightenment: The scientific and philosophical advancements of the Enlightenment era, particularly in the field of electricity and galvanism (reanimating dead tissue), contributed to the novel's scientific backdrop.
2. Personal Experiences:
* The "Ghost Story" Challenge: In 1816, Shelley, her husband Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori were trapped indoors at Villa Diodati in Switzerland due to bad weather. They challenged each other to write ghost stories, and this sparked Shelley's initial ideas for *Frankenstein*.
* Her Own Pregnancy: Shelley was pregnant during this time, and her own experience with the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy might have influenced her portrayal of the creature's creation.
* Her Personal Losses: Shelley had lost her mother when she was very young, and her first child died shortly after birth. These experiences may have contributed to the novel's exploration of loss, grief, and the complexities of motherhood.
3. Specific Influences:
* John Milton's *Paradise Lost*: The novel's themes of creation, rebellion, and the fall of man are clearly inspired by Milton's epic poem.
* Galvanism Experiments: The work of Luigi Galvani, who demonstrated that electricity could stimulate muscle contractions in dead frogs, served as a basis for the novel's scientific premise.
* The "Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful" by Edmund Burke: Shelley may have drawn inspiration from Burke's ideas on the sublime and the grotesque, which contributed to the novel's powerful depictions of the creature's physical appearance and the horror it inspires.
4. The Romantic Ideal:
* The "Noble Savage" Concept: The idea of a natural, innocent being corrupted by society is a key theme in *Frankenstein*. The creature, though physically grotesque, is initially good and becomes monstrous through rejection and abuse.
* The "Fallen Angel" Theme: This theme, explored in works like *Paradise Lost*, aligns with the creature's journey from a hopeful, innocent being to a tormented outcast.
In conclusion, *Frankenstein* emerged from a rich blend of literary influences, personal experiences, and contemporary scientific advancements. It reflects the anxieties and aspirations of its time, while also transcending them to become a timeless exploration of the consequences of unchecked ambition and the nature of humanity itself.