ShmoopTube

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We speak student!

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If you have a weak heart, better leave now because

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Frankenstein returns!

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Frankenstein a la Shmoop

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Getting to know Mary Shelley

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Why is there a preface in Frankenstein?

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Whenever there's a preface, there's a reason for it.

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The preface to Frankenstein

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basically just outlines the motivations

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behind writing Frankenstein,

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talks a little about the whole,

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"Oh, we were having a ghost story contest" and all that.

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It is important to note that

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it is possible that, again, Percy Shelley wrote it

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and not Mary Shelley.

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Whether he wrote it or she wrote it,

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it kind of gave the opportunity to say,

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"Hey, look at me! It's a woman writing!

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I'm saying valuable things. Listen to me."

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As opposed to just jumping right into the story.

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Also, at this time, novels weren't

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considered serious literature.

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And so she's basically trying to say,

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"Hey, listen. This is a serious book.

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I'm talking about some serious issues here."

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And as we'll see as we make our way through the course,

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there are tons of serious issues.

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So she kind of wanted to call out to that

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and say, "Listen up. This isn't just some

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silly 18-year-old girl writing a story.

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This is a hard-hitting novel

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and you need to listen to what I'm saying."

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What is a preface?

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What additional information does it provide in Frankenstein?

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