Weekend Writing: Celebrating Mary Shelley

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful." - Mary Shelley 

When you hear Mary Shelley's name, you probably associate her with one thing: Frankenstein. The English novelist is known for penning the 1818 Gothic novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. However, there was so much more to her than this. 

Shelley is remembered as a bold, imaginative woman who was wild about her feelings. She had a successful career as a writer, and her legacy has lived on for centuries. 

I'm featuring her today on my blog in honor of her birthday. She was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in Somers Town, London, on August 30, 1797. Her father, William, was a philosopher, novelist, and journalist. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, had her own career as a feminist philosopher, educator, and writer. She was an early advocate for women's rights, especially regarding a woman's right to proper education. She is best known for the 1792 work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she argued that women are not inferior to men. They only appear this way because they lacked the same educational opportunities available to men. 

Mary Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft (photo/The Guardian).

So, Mary Shelley was destined to become a literary genius. It was in her blood. 

Unfortunately, Mary never got to know her mother because Wollstonecraft died of puerperal fever shortly after Mary was born. Her father was forced to raise her and her half-sister, Fanny Imlay, on his own. 

For the most part, Mary had a happy childhood. However, her father couldn't continue to care for his children on his own. In 1801, he married Mary Jane Clairmont, a well-educated woman with two children of her own. Mary's stepmother was quick-tempered and favored her own children over Mary. It didn't take long for Mary to detest her. If this sounds familiar, this could be a version of Cinderella. 

Mary was lucky to meet several distinguished writers during her childhood, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. While her stepmother didn't encourage her to receive a proper education, Mary made great use of her father's library. She wanted to read as many books as she could find. She loved to visit her mother's grave and read, often daydreaming because she found excitement in escaping her reality for an imaginative world that seemed better than her own. 

Mary Shelley (photo/The Guardian)

Like most famous writers, Mary found a creative outlet in writing at a young age. In a personal letter published in The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary wrote, "As a child, I scribbled; and my favorite pastime, during the hours given me for recreation, was to 'write stories.'" She was fortunate to publish her first poem, "Mounseer Nongtongpaw," in 1807 when she was just ten years old. Isn't that incredible?

In 1812, Mary went to Scotland to spend the summer with her father's close friend, William Baxter. She loved it there and decided she would return. During these visits, she met her future husband, famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. He was a devoted student to Mary's father, but he was immediately attracted to Mary. 

However, he was still married to his first wife, who was pregnant at the time. This didn't seem to stop Mary and Percy. They were in love, despite his marital status and the fact that Mary was just 16 and he was 21. Her father disapproved of their romance, but the couple didn't listen. On July 28, 1814, they eloped and fled to France to start a new life together. 

A painting of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley (photo/History Today).

During their newlywed months, the couple traveled around Europe. While they struggled with their finances, they were happy together. On February 22, 1815, Mary delivered their first child, a girl, but she died of convulsions just a few days later. Mary was understandably devastated at the loss, writing, "I am no longer a mother now." 

Mary was ultimately depressed after the death of her first child. She explained that she was haunted by visions of the baby girl. The couple had three other children: William (1816-1819), Clara (1817-1818), and Percy Florence Shelley, born in 1819. He was their only child to live into his adult years. 

Mary and Percy suffered so much loss together. To cope with their losses, in 1816, they traveled to Switzerland with friends, including poet Lord Byron. The group entertained themselves by telling ghost stories and Lord Byron suggested that they write their own horror story. Little did everyone know that Mary started working on one of the greatest Gothic horror stories of all time: Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley's 1818 classic novel, Frankenstein (photo/Cosmotheism).

Mary was obsessed with the idea of a corpse being re-imagined. Encouraged by Percy, she completed and published Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. It was at this time where she finally ended her childhood and was emerging into her "real life." 

As we all know, Frankenstein became a pop culture phenomenon. It has inspired numerous film adaptations, parodies, etc. Fans are intrigued by the idea of a doctor, Dr. Frankenstein, transforming a deceased body into his "monster." To many critics, it's the best monster tale of all time. 

Mary Shelley and Boris Karloff's famous portrayal as Frankenstein's monster in the 1931
classic film, Frankenstein.

Mary wrote numerous other works throughout her career, including: 

• History of a Six Weeks' Tour (1817)
• Mathilda (1819) 
• Valperga; or, The Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca (1823) 
• The Last Man (1826)
• The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck (1830)
• Lodore (1835)
• Falkner (1837)

Mary suffered an unbearable loss in 1822 when Percy drowned in a sailing accident. Suddenly, her life was rocked by a tragedy she couldn't have anticipated. A widow at 24, she worked hard to support herself and her living son, Percy. She wrote her own work and science fiction stories, while still promoting and honoring her late husband's famous poetry. She worked hard to preserve his place in literary history. 

Mary spent her later years writing as much as she could. However, her final years were marked with brain cancer. She passed away on February 1, 1851, at 53 years old. She left behind a legacy that is even stronger today. 

Mary Shelley (photo/ThoughtCo)

People know Mary Shelley as the author of Frankenstein. You wouldn't think a woman wrote one of the most prolific monster tales of all time, but it's true. A woman--not a man--created a Gothic classic that is still cherished today. 

In fact, it will always be cherished. Frankstein will always be a pop culture phenomenon. It will always be widely read. Like her husband, Mary has an important place in literary history, and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. 

Mary was fearless and that's what made her strong. That's what gave her strength and power. She gave power to her writing and characters, and her words give us strength. 

-KJL-