Frankenstein’s legacy: Mary Shelley's resilience | Lawrence Connolly | TEDxSewickley Academy

Key Concepts

• Resilience: The ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
• Mary Shelley: Author of Frankenstein, a novel that serves as a central example of resilience.
• Frankenstein (the novel): A work of fiction by Mary Shelley, initially met with rejection and criticism, but ultimately achieving lasting success.
• Perseverance: Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
• Intellectual Property: Creations of the mind, such as inventions and literary works, that have legal rights, including patent rights, copyright rights, and trademarks, which can be licensed or sold.
• Adaptation: The process of adapting something, especially a literary work, for a particular medium, such as a play or film.
• Robert A. Heinlein's Principles for Writers: A set of guidelines for aspiring writers emphasizing consistent effort and submission.

The Resilience of Mary Shelley and Frankenstein

The presentation uses the story of Mary Shelley and her novel Frankenstein as a primary case study to illustrate the concept of resilience. Mary Shelley, a teenage girl at the time, embarked on writing a novel that defied the conventions of 19th-century literature, which was dominated by male authors and typically focused on romances and comedies. She aimed to explore a subject no writer had previously tackled.

Early Struggles and Rejection:

• Daunting Undertaking: Writing a novel was a significant challenge in the 19th century, especially for a young woman.
• Personal Hardship: While traveling through Europe, Shelley was essentially homeless, caring for an infant, and evading creditors due to her partner's financial mismanagement.
• Initial Rejection: She completed the manuscript and submitted it to a top London publisher, who rejected it within three days. She resubmitted and was rejected again.
• Conditional Acceptance: A publisher finally agreed to take Frankenstein on the condition that Shelley's name not appear on the book, as a female author was not expected to attract readers. She also had to accept no upfront payment, only a small percentage of profits.
• Poor Initial Sales and Reviews: Only 500 copies were printed, and they did not sell well. Nine months later, booksellers were trying to offload copies. Reviews were harsh, with one calling it a "horrible and disgusting absurdity" and another dismissing it because "the author of this is we understand a female." William Beckford, a fellow novelist, described it as "the foulest toad stool ever to have sprung up from the wreaking dungill of our current times."

Continued Perseverance and Second Novel:

• Unwavering Determination: Despite these setbacks, Shelley did not give up. She began working on a second novel, completing it within a few years.
• Personal Tragedies: This period was marked by immense personal loss, including the death of her three-year-old child from malaria and her husband's drowning.
• Second Novel's Lack of Success: Her second novel, released in 1823, was also not profitable for her.

The Unexpected Revival of Frankenstein:

• Unauthorized Adaptation: In 1823, the same year her second novel was published, Shelley learned that an unauthorized adaptation of Frankenstein was to be performed at the English Opera House in London.
• Intellectual Property Rights: At the time, playwrights could adapt novels without the author's permission or compensation for intellectual property.
• Initial Delight and Subsequent Criticism: Shelley was pleased that her "forgotten, despised" novel was gaining new life. However, the play also faced criticism, with the London Society for the Prevention of Vice and Immorality deeming it a "monstrous production" and an "immoral trifle."
• Public Reaction and Success: Reports of ladies fainting during performances and general public interest, possibly fueled by the controversy, led to the play's resounding success.

Fame and Lasting Legacy:

• Celebrated Author: Upon returning to England, Shelley discovered she was finally a celebrated author. She wrote to a friend, "Lo and behold, I found myself famous."
• Rushed Reissue and Recognition: Frankenstein was quickly reissued with her name on the cover, now as Mary Shelley. It included a new introduction where she referred to her book as her "hideous progeny."
• Enduring Popularity: The book sold briskly, leading to more adaptations. Frankenstein has remained in print ever since, recognized as a significant work of world literature and earning Shelley a place among great writers.
• Cultural Impact: The novel's influence is evident in numerous spin-offs, including books, plays, television shows, movies, Halloween masks, and dolls. It is considered the prototype of the modern science fiction novel.

The Story of Victor Frankenstein: A Counterpoint to Resilience

The presentation contrasts Mary Shelley's resilience with the character of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of her novel.

• Victor's Lack of Resilience: Victor Frankenstein is depicted as a brilliant young man who lacks the resilience to pursue his dreams.
• Failure and Abandonment: After two years of work, when the initial results of his creation fall short of his expectations, he deems himself and his creation a failure and walks away, ultimately dying in obscurity. This highlights the importance of perseverance even when faced with initial disappointment.

Robert A. Heinlein's Principles for Writers

The presentation connects Mary Shelley's journey to the principles for becoming a successful writer put forth by science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein over a century later. These principles are seen as reflecting Shelley's own resilience:

1. Write: The fundamental act of creation.
2. Finish what you write: The commitment to completing a project.
3. Submit what you write for publication: The act of putting one's work out into the world.
4. Continue to believe in your dreams and keep it in submission until it is sold: The crucial element of perseverance and faith in one's vision, even through repeated rejections.

Conclusion and Takeaways

The core message is that resilience is essential for pursuing dreams. The world may present obstacles and doubts, but perseverance, learning from setbacks, and maintaining belief in one's vision are key to achieving success. The story of Mary Shelley and Frankenstein serves as a powerful testament to this, demonstrating how initial failures and harsh criticism can be overcome through tenacity, leading to enduring impact and recognition. The presentation concludes by bidding the audience resilience in their own pursuits, echoing Mary Shelley's sentiment, "I bid you go forth and prosper."