Shelley presents a value for nature and romanticism, which was a rising topic during her context. Frankenstein portrays the notion that humans will and should be punished for interfering with the natural order or trying to “play God”. Humanity cannot be replicated or improved by scientific knowledge without disastrous consequences. Frankenstein represents humanity’s hubris and folly personified when he is horrified by his attempt to recreate human life and punished for it by a life of misery (the death of his loved ones caused by the creature) and his own death due to exhaustion. “His limbs were nearly frozen and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition”. Shelley uses an intertextual reference in the novel’s title to characterise Frankenstein as “the modern Prometheus”. In Greek mythology Prometheus was the champion of mankind who stole fire from the gods and was punished for it with eternal agony (an eagle eating out his liver daily suggested nature was having its revenge for the disruption in the natural order).
By drawing on this fable, Shelley takes on its moral to suggest when humans try to emulate the gods or disrupt the natural order, as Frankenstein does when he tried to create human life, they will be punished. Shelley gives the moral of her own story credence by drawing an allegorical legend, authoritative because of its longevity. Thus, due to the context in which Mary Shelley lived, the values of the natural order and romanticism are clearly depicted within the text Frankenstein.
Shelley critiques the contextual enlightenment ideals of scientific rationalism and progress at all costs and instead suggests the value of tradition/nature. Ernest (Frankenstein’s brother) is “full of activity and spirit” and “ looks upon study as an odious fetter; his time is spent in the open air”. Frankenstein: “often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation”. “It was a most beautiful...