Mary Shelley, Women & Frankenstein: A Feminist Reading of the Novel

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,3, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: For a better understanding of the main part of this term paper, firstly, the predominant
doctrine of separate spheres will be introduced and sufficiently explained. Likewise a short
overview of the situation of women from the 19th century will be given in this chapter. Further
on it will then be demonstrated how Mary Shelley coped with the fact of being a female
writer in a male dominated society and how she managed her life. Afterwards it will be
looked at all women, appearing in the novel Frankenstein, and how Shelley presents them. In
addition it will be analysed in what way Shelley displays critique of the gender division and
the patriarchal society. Finally, the results of the analysis of the novel will be summarised.