Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus
contributor: Eric Lease Morgan (Infomotions, Inc.)
creator: Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
date: 0000-00-00
extent: 430822
format: text/plain
language: en
publisher: Eris Etext Project
rights: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/GPL/2.0/
source: 1
subject: father
subject: man
subject: life
subject: eyes
subject: modern
subject: prometheus
subject: mary
subject: wollstonecraft
subject: shelley
subject: preface
subject: event
subject: fiction
subject: founded
subject: supposed
subject: frankenstein
subject: english
subject: literature
type: text
local mirror: shelley-frankenstein-160.txt
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sort title: Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus
full text: 1818 FRANKENSTEIN OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley PREFACE PREFACE THE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the interest of the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere tale of spectres or enchantment. It was recommended by the novelty of the situations which it develops; and, however impossible as a physical fact, affords a point of view to the imagination for the delineating of human passions more comprehensive and commanding than any which the ordinary relations of existing events can yield. I have thus endeavoured to preserve the truth of the elementary principles of human nature, while I have not scrupled to innovate upon their combinations. The Iliad, the tragic poetry of Greece- Shakespeare, in the Tempest/and Midsummer Night's Dream- and most especially Milton, in Paradise Lost, conform to this rule; and the most humble novelist, who seeks to confer or receive amusement from his labours, may, without presumption, apply to prose fiction a licence, or rather a rule, from the adoption of which so many exquisite combinations of human feeling have resulted in the highest specimens of poetry. The circumstance on which my story rests was suggested in casual conversation. It was commenced partly as a source of amusement, and partly as an expedient for exercising any untried resources of mind. Other motives were mingled with these as the work proceeded. I am by no means indifferent to the manner in which whatever moral tendencies exist in the sentiments or characters it contains shall affect the reader; yet my chief concern in this respect has been limited to avoid…