Dr. Romanticism Brings a Novel to Life

Imagine the perfect political candidate, the one seen in movies. He is concerned with what the common people want not just the rich. He appreciates the traditions of America. He wants what the people want. He sets up those wildlife habitats and seems to know your name. He makes those heartfelt speeches about growing up in a good family. He wants to give each individual child that life. He donates to the art gallery and helps fund the children’s library. He wants to experience all he can. He is a romantic. Romanticism is the emotion, the art, the traditions, the democracy, the change, the common people, trust in nature, and the danger of knowledge not drawn from nature. Romanticism is the individual’s heart. These traits are ones of Romantic philosophy and are expressed by many authors. Mary Shelley was an influential Romantic writer of her time. Romantic philosophy is reflected in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the concern for the common people, the pursuit of knowledge in science in stead of nature, and the rejection of the misunderstood.