What are the Gothic fiction motifs in Mary Shelley's works?

Mary Shelley frequently drew upon Gothic motifs in her literary works, most notably in her 1818 novel Frankenstein. Her lesser-known writings, such as the novella Mathilda, also explored dark themes traditionally associated with Gothic literature. These motifs often reflected deeper psychological elements, intense familial dynamics, and societal anxieties.

What we know

• Mary Shelley wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein, which is also considered an early example of science fiction. [2]
• Mary Shelley's novella Mathilda deals with common Gothic themes such as incest and suicide. [3]
• Novels by Mary Shelley frequently drew upon Gothic motifs during the early nineteenth century. [4]

Still open

• Whether Mathilda's storyline is directly autobiographical representing real people remains a subject of perception and interpretation.

Where to go next

• what caused itHow did Frankenstein originate during the summer in Geneva?
• a case in pointWhat are the core themes of the novella Mathilda?
• compared withHow does Gothic fiction differ from historical fiction?
• the bigger pictureWhat defines the broader literary genre of Gothic fiction?
• whoWho were the key figures in Mary Shelley's early life and family?
• an unexpected connectionHow is a novella about incest and suicide connected to William Godwin?Mathilda has been perceived as a roman a clef where the fictional father represents Mary Shelley's own philosopher father, William Godwin.

Sources

• [1]Mary Shelley (Wikidata Q47152) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Mary Shelley · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Mathilda (novella) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Gothic fiction · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Eighteenth-century Gothic novel · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. How did 19th-century physics transform science?
2. /What are the Gothic fiction motifs in Mary Shelley's works?