Shelley's theory of humanity: Human
beings are in essence good; made
evil by being deprived of love, by
forced isolation
Her influences
Rousseau's beliefs
Rousseau suggests that man, in the state of nature is blessed with an
enviable total freedom because he is not constrained by a repressive
state apparatus or dominated by his fellow men.
Rousseau believed modern man’s enslavement to his
own needs was responsible for issues within society:
from exploitation and domination of others to poor
self-esteem and depression.
He is also psychologically and spiritually free because he
is not enslaved to any of the artificial needs that
characterize modern society.
William Godwin
Believed the government was a corrupting force on society
In An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, he
propounds an enlightened anarchism as the key to
individual development.
"Frankenstein's scientific ambition to create life blinds him to the importance of compassion as the true animating spirit of humanity" How helpful do you find this view of the novel?