2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Complexity of Maladies in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kim Carter-Cram

Abstract

Described as the “Modern Day Prometheus” by both scholars and the author herself, Shelley’s work Frankenstein has cemented itself as a turning point in not only female authorship but in the tension between the Romantic and Gothic traditions. Dealing with matters of faith, illness, and the free will of man, Shelley creates an introspective work to allow herself and others to reflect on the complexities of human nature, primarily through the comparison of various theories of thought that came to be in the Romantic period and bringing previously unheard voices into the conversation; most notably, the narratives of the “othered” (particularly women and the mentally ill). Through in-depth literary research and analysis, this project makes the claim that Shelley may have written her novel to be purposefully enigmatic when it comes to the genre, as she appears to be criticising the idea of the Romantic hero and the lack of nuance held by some of her contemporaries. The feminist and psychoanalytic literary criticisms were used in tandem throughout this analysis in order to draw deeper connections between Shelley’s personal experiences and those that she portrays in the book, as the feminine and “insanity” have often been tied together.

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