Mary Shelley: Champion of Nature and the Natural (Asked to relate Romantic influence in the novel)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
From the Age of Enlightenment arose the belief that reason was the answer to all of mankind's problems. Recent breakthroughs in the sciences not only allowed for a greater understanding of the world, but more importantly, instilled the belief that no feat was out of reach. Mathematics provided man with certain knowledge. Structured, rational thought overcame the injustice of superstition and bigotry and revealed truth. This mind-set reigned supreme throughout the eighteenth century. However, in 1818 when Mary Shelley published her renowned first novel, a n…