Below is an excerpt from a post by a student who hit the nail on the head.
excerpt from a Tumblr post “what the people want the people get” by @plant-based-person Feb 25, 2025
Final sentence (and a REAL CLINCHER) accidentally was cut off. It reads “In conclusion, Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is one of the first examples of mpreg in English literature.”
“…In conclusion, Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is one of the first examples of mpreg in English literature.“
mpreg. Male pregnancy. wow.
That final sentence of the Tumblr excerpt triggered my feminist radar.
That is an interesting interpretation – and one that is rarely discussed.
I looked at Shelley’s novel once again.
But this time, I examined it through some of my own personal lenses – being a Christian, a feminist, and a literary analyst from ‘the old-world’.
Then it dawned on me.
Symbolism from the Bible is there – twisted and convoluted in Frankenstein.
Nephelim and Frankenstein?
Yes! I included that and a few more in my list of Biblical symbolism in Frankenstein here.
I read this book many decades ago.
Why didn’t I notice her choice of quote from Paradise Lost on her book cover? Why did I gloss over so many references to the work by the characters?
Milton. For hundreds of years, interpreting his work has created points of contention.
Milton’s work remains highly controversial as many believe that he portrayed Satan as bearing heroism and strength of character.
More food for thought. It never ends…
The bottom line is this: Writers may or may not express their own personal views through their work.
Their personal beliefs are not what matters.
It is important that we know and have a grip on what we resonate with about anything and everything. For ourselves, our sense of self, and our moral ground.
Reading literature allows us to see, understand, agree, and disagree with behavior, ideals, principles, statements, situations, beliefs, and actions.
Literature opens our eyes to see facets of human nature – allowing us to further strengthen our own individuality, self – awareness, and stand on issues.
Many times we discover truths – our own truths – through fiction.