It’s that time of year again… the days grow shorter while the nights stay longer, a slight chill ripples through the humid air, and holiday cheer is right around the corner. Something about the falls brings me to a state of reflection, creating a sense of nostalgia for times past.
When I was assigned the project of bringing a gothic novel to life, I was immediately transported back to high school. As a sophomore, I read tales like “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, and “Frankenstein.” I remember wondering how authors came up with these stories… what moments of their lives sparked the creation of such tales.
Back to the fall of 2024… I am tasked with creating an event exploring the themes of a gothic novel. We landed on “Frankenstein”, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley at just 19 years old. The more I delved into Mary’s life, the more I recognized the striking parallels between her own experiences and the narrative of Frankenstein’s monster.
In "Frankenstein," the creature roams the earth, a restless soul in search of a home. Born into a world where love was fleeting, Mary Shelley's own tale echoes this desire for belonging. Her mother, women's rights activist Mary Wollstonecraft, died shortly after her birth. In the midst of grief, her father remarried and sent her to live with distant relatives. Left without a family to protect her, Mary fell into the twisted arms of a married man, Percy Shelley. Mr. Shelley masked his manipulation with charm, leaving her to grieve the loss of 4 out of their 5 children alone. Out of her sorrow and confusion, Frankenstien’s monster was born. Both creator and creation weaving a tapestry of longing for connection in a world that feels forever out of reach.
“Frankenstein” is so much more than the story of a mad scientist and his deranged monster. It is a deep reflection of the human need for belonging, the desire for purpose and meaning. Mary’s own tragedies are interwoven into the themes of abandonment, loneliness, and self-discovery.
On Thursday, October 24th, the library will be hosting “An Evening with Mary Shelley.” Through an immersive and theatrical experience, participants will step into Mary’s world and connect with her powerful story.
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Anna Lebo, GA School of Honors
October 21, 2024
