The story of  Frankenstein is a beautiful narrative about ambition and tragedy, written by Mary Shelley and published January 1st, 1818. Frankenstein tells the story of a young scientist who creates a sentient creature from a string of intense scientific revolutions. The creature, rejected by society, grapples with his own existence and purpose while seeking revenge against his creator, Victor Frankenstein. The characters in the story endure vivid emotions as the catastrophe of  unrestrained ambition unfolds. The tale explores themes of relentless pursuit, the consequences of playing God, and the nature of humanity. I found myself transformed by Shelley’s writing, the artistically curated sentences and powerful words, constantly reminding me that she was a young girl when she fabricated the horror story. By digitally analyzing two editions – the 1831 second edition, animated with a new introduction, and the very original, handwritten and revised in Shelley’s own handwriting- we gain perspective into the life of the very gifted Mary Shelley. 

Frankenstein’s Origin – Accentuated by HathiTrust

           Thirteen years after Frankenstein’s release, Mary Shelley released a second edition of the story, this one revised, corrected, and illustrated with a new introduction. Digital scans of the 1831 edition have been made available by HathiTrust, a digital library founded on the principle of collaboration and curiosity. Shelley starts the 1831 edition with a new introduction, requested by the Publishers of the Standard Novels, answering society’s most frequently asked question –

“How I, then a young girl, came to think of, and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea?” (Shelley, Introduction IV) 

          She begins to answer the question by relating back to her childhood. Being the daughter of two literary celebrities, Mary  expressed a natural passion for writing at a young age. Her residence on the Northern  coast of  the Tay is where Shelley did most of her writing. 

“It was beneath the trees of the grounds belonging to our house, or on the bleak sides of the woodless mountains near, that my true compositions, the airy flights of my imagination, were born and fostered.”  (Shelley, Introduction IV) 

 

 

                  It was the summer of 1816 in which Mary and her husband, Percy Shelley, became neighbors with the prominent writer Lord Byron. It was a wet and rainy summer which often contained the writers inside the cabin, with volumes of German ghost stories to keep them occupied. Lord Byron proposed the idea of writing their own ghost stories, and after days of, as modern day would describe, “writer’s block”, the idea of a ghastly, reanimated creature came to Shelley as she was drifting to sleep. Even Mary herself was horrified of the creature she had procured in her imagination

“ ‘I have found it!’ What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the specter which haunted my midnight pillow.” (Introduction IV)

               I used the platform Hathitrust to view the introduction. Hathitrust is a collaborative digital library that was founded in 2008 as a medium to preserve the published record for durable, long-term, and lawful access. The 1831 edition is a two hundred and twenty four page scan that users can seamlessly scroll through. The website has also conveniently sorted each chapter with a hyperlink to the scanned pages. Since the platform is scanned book pages, It feels almost as if  you are reading the book, with the nostalgia of the sort of damp-looking yellow pages that I can smell through the screen. However, using the digital scans proved that there was no embedded text, when trying to select quotes to insert, the computer does not recognize the page as a text, but rather an image. This website would also be considered inaccessible for those who experience any visual impairments, seeing as though a screen reader would not be adaptable to the website. 

                 The added introduction gives readers like myself a new perspective. We learn aspects of Shelley’s personality and even the circumstances in which Frankenstein was written. While reading the introduction, I thought about Mary Shelley, only 17 years old, crafting the works of Frankenstein in a rainy cabin, over 200 years ago. 

The Very Original 

                 The second platform I chose to analyze was Mary’s very own notebook, the story of Frankenstein in the creator’s handwriting. Digital scans of her notebook pages have been made available by The Shelley-Godwin Article. The scans show frantic writing, almost scribble-looking, that I can only imagine possible written at a high speed. This little detail highlights the brilliance of Mary Shelley, the ability to quickly formulate literate and beautiful sentences to form such a profound plot. While reading, I can see an even clearer image of Mary, writing in ink and quill while the rain pours outside and her heartbeat pounds with terror. 

                The digital scans of her pages also shed light on her original ideas, or essentially, what made the cut and what did not. We see whole paragraphs crossed out and little details changed. For example,  In chapter 2 we see that the age that Victor experienced a thunderstorm over Belrive was changed from twelve to fourteen. The attention to detail by Shelley is impressive, how does the age of Victor affect our reading experience? 

               The readers can also appreciate the accessibility of the archive. On the left hand side of the site we see the actual pages, with handwriting, redactions, and annotations. On the left side we get a text version of what each page displays, which is convenient for people like me who could not read Shelley’s script. This also gives readers the option to use screen readers and the copy and paste tool on their computers. 

Conclusion 

               By comparing two different editions of the same novel, Frankenstein, we can further analyze each decision made by the author, and how each idea is carefully articulated to convey a message. We can get a glimpse of the artistic process Shelley experienced, as well as original feedback from other notable authors. In the 1831 edition, Shelley writes a new introduction, this one about herself and the events that led up to Frankenstein’s creation. We get personal insight, for example, when Shelley mentions that even herself was scared of the creature, a figment of her imagination so vivid that the thinker gets scared. 

 

Relentless Pursuit

The word “endeavored” is a prominent and multifaceted word that Mary Shelley frequents in her book, Frankenstein. Shelley’s intentional repetition of the word masterfully mirrors the never-ending struggles, both scientifically and socially between the protagonist and antagonist. This invites the reader to contemplate the implications of unwavering ambition and the pursuit of one’s goals. How far is too far? What are the potential repercussions of unwavering ambition? Further exploration into the meaning of the word using The Oxford Dictionary and Voyant reveals Mary Shelley’s attempt at capturing a fundamental principle of  life: The relentless pursuit. 

Exploring the Word in Frankenstein

Mary Shelley chooses the word or similar variations of  “endeavored”  a total of fifty seven times throughout the story.  There are two instances in which the word’s use is most notable to the narrative, the first instance is during Victor’s reflection into his fervent pursuit of scientific knowledge and the creation of life: 

“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? … I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation.” (Volume 1, chapter 4) 

This passage highlights Victor’s long and strenuous dedication to his scientific research, emphasizing his ambitious attempts to recreate human life over the course of two years. The first step to his process required hours of tireless research and experiments. Victor extensively studies natural sciences, including chemistry and biology to start to uncover the principles of life. He toils for a significant period of time, isolating himself and dedicating all his efforts to this singular pursuit. Immediately after the awakening of his creature, Victor is horrified by his grotesque appearance and feels an intense sense of guilt and remorse as the ramifications of what he’s done begins to set in. 

The second crucial usage of the word “endeavoured” occurs in the monster’s lament about his failed integration into society: 

“What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions.” 

Here, the creature uses the word to express his adamant desire to assimilate and integrate into human society, despite his perpetual rejection and isolation. During the time he observed the De Lacey family, the creature finds solace in the close bonds they share. He watches the family go about their daily lives and gets a glimpse of love and a family structure. He learns the complexities of human interaction, emotions, and language by silently watching the family. He also feels an overwhelming sense of deprivation and isolation. He desperately desires another companion to share the simple joys and compassions of life with. He then faces a brutal rejection after his eventual interaction with the De Laceys, leading to further isolation and despair for the creature. 

Insights from the Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word “endeavor” as: To make an attempt, to make an effort, to strive, or to exert oneself to do or achieve something. This definition is applicable to the early 19th century as well. In the context of Frankenstein, the term aligns with the characters’ persistent efforts, attempts, and earnest endeavors towards particular goals or ambitions. It reflects their continuous and dedicated exertion towards objectives, whether it be the advancement of scientific knowledge or the desire to fit into society.

 

Recognizing Patterns using Voyant

After feeding Voyant the complete works of Frankenstein, we can further analyze the distribution and frequency of the word. 

 

The word is predominantly associated with pivotal events in the novel where characters strive for a significant goal. It highlights the parallel struggles of both Victor and his creation. Victor’s fervent endeavors in scientific creation mirror the creature’s attempts to be accepted into society. Both characters grapple with a pursuit that ultimately leads to further demise: Isolation and suffering. Mary Shelley uses the word “endeavoured” to accentuate the human condition – the perpetual quest for fulfillment. Humans strive for acceptance and purpose, creating the relentless pursuit and the devastating yearning for approval.