Female Gothic: the Monster's Mother

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Ellen Moers’ Female Gothic: The Monster's Mother In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley was one of the first female writers who managed to bring her own experiences into the world of the Gothic novel. Shelley. Ellen Moers, in Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother, her critique of Frankenstein, suggests that Shelley was implicitly writing about her life. Shelley has created two characters that she can identify with, Viktor and the creature, who although seem different, their two trials can both be seen in the life of Shelley. In Shelley’s time, female writers were not mothers and did not write of birth. Even though Frankenstein does not have a biological birth, it does have a creator that gives life to a being. Shelley does not even focus on the “birth”, but the aftermath of it (Shelley 319-320). Women can have different reactions to bringing a life into the world. Some are extremely happy, but others can become depressed. Although Shelley belongs in the former category, she writes of a creator who cannot bear to be around his creation (321). Shelley wanted to be a mother and was able to have children, but they died shortly after. Shelley represents Viktor and Frankenstein is a representation of her children (323-324). She believes she “ran away” from her children, meaning it was something she did to cause their deaths. Shelley and Viktor both desperately want to create something beautiful and be able to keep it, but neither get the experience they had hoped for. Throughout the novel, the creature tries to find companionship, but is rejected. The first rejection comes from his creator, Viktor, who runs away after seeing what he brought into existence. Throughout the book, many have the same reaction. Shelley can relate to the creature in this way because many people in her life have left, from her life, but through death. The person who brings her into existence
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