How a tumultuous romance and a rainy summer birthed a gothic masterpiece
In short: The 2017 film Mary Shelley explores the life of the woman behind Frankenstein. It depicts how Mary Godwin’s radical relationship with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and a fateful, storm-bound retreat near Geneva inspired her to write one of literature’s most enduring novels, despite the era’s stifling social conventions.
Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, the 2017 romantic period-drama Mary Shelley chronicles the early life of Mary Godwin, the daughter of feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft and publisher William Godwin. The narrative follows Mary’s transition from a young woman living under her father’s roof to her elopement with the unconventional poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Their relationship is portrayed as fraught with ideological conflict, particularly regarding Shelley’s belief in free love, which clashes with Mary’s expectations of commitment. Their journey takes them through financial instability and personal tragedy, including the death of their infant child.
The film’s pivotal sequence occurs during a stay at a villa near Geneva, where the group—including Claire Clairmont, Lord Byron, and John William Polidori—is trapped indoors by poor weather. Byron’s challenge to write a ghost story serves as the catalyst for Mary’s creative breakthrough. Haunted by a public demonstration of galvanism she witnessed earlier, Mary begins crafting the narrative that would become Frankenstein. The film highlights the systemic barriers she faced, noting that publishers initially refused to release the work under her name, deeming the subject matter unsuitable for a lady.
While the film features a performance by Elle Fanning, it has faced criticism regarding its historical accuracy. Review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic reflect a mixed reception, with some historians questioning the film’s portrayal of the central relationships. Critics have argued that the movie occasionally smooths over the complexities of its subject’s life. Despite these debates, the film underscores the eventual success of the novel and the enduring, if complicated, partnership between Mary and Shelley, who remained together until his death at age 29.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mary Shelley (film)
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