Creature and the Boston Massacre (Connection)

Throughout the book the creature is responsible for the death of 5 individuals, two of which were indirectly. They were William, Clerval, Elizabeth, Justine and Dr. Frankenstein himself. This can relate to the Boston Massacre that happened on March 5,1770 where British soldiers were in a situation that got out of hand resulting in the death of 5 civilians. What happened was that a soldier lost his temper, after an exchange of words and hit an individual that was part of an angry mob in the head with the butt of his rifle. The rest of the mob reacted and began to attack the British soldiers with clubs, however the soldiers were left in a situiation where their life would be in danger if nothing was done. This is why they shot at the mob and killed 5 of them. (Boston Massacre)

This picture shows British Soldiers shooting their muskets at the mob.

Slavery Connection

When the creature notices that Victor has stopped working on a female version of himself. The creature confronts Victor and says, "Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power,.. I am your master;---obey!" (Shelley, 140) This can relate to how the British Empire participated in the Atlantic Slave Trade. They used their powers to control and decieve unknowing people. If the slaves didn't do what they were told they were most likely killed or punished harshly. Something that Victor will soon experience when his wife is murdered by the creature.

Congress of Vienna

Following the defeat of Napoleon I, a conference was held in Vienna, Austria between 1814 and 1815 called the Congress of Vienna. The intent of this conference was  to create a balance of power and preserve world peace. It was a conference where the major powers at the time got together to determine what would happen to the land that Napoleon had conquered during his rein. By the end of the conference the British was given control of Cape Colony, as well as several strategic colonial territories, and dominance of water (Naval Power).( pvhs, British Empire )

This picture is an example of the conference.

Frankenstein's "pirate"

The creature Doctor Frankenstein created is like a pirate in a sense. The creature used to steal food, raid villages and kill innocent people just as a pirate would.(source:http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm)

Imperialism (Connection)

When the creature finds about Victors death, he is stunned because his creator is dead and feels that it has no reason to live anymore, and should suffer the same fate as Victor did. When Walton enters the room of Victors deceased body, he is suprised to see the creature crying over Victors body. The creature turns to Walton and says, "I have murdered the lovely and the hopeless; I have strangled the innocent as they slept, and grasped to death his throat who never injured me or any other living thing." (Shelley, 190)
This quote can relate to how the British Empire hurt a lot of innocent people in order to just gain more land, and power.

Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars, unlike most wars, consisted of several wars between the French and other European nations. These war's were fought under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte during 1799 and 1815. Napoleons goal was to control the entire European continent, at which he almost achieved. Napoleon was a fierce leader who knew how to lead an army, and get what he wanted. However, he did not expect the British to have such a powerful Navy when he waged war on them. In 1805 the British ships created a blockade on the French ports, and defeated a French fleet of boats. Ten years later the British and Allies won the war against the French in 1815. (Historynet , History of War)

This picture shows ships that the British Navy (Royal Navy) used during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Colonialism and Imperialism

Colonialism is when a nation takes over another nation, with the intent to transfer its people into the conquered land.  However, the people that are transferred, maintain their allegiance to their home country, in this case the British Empire, and bring over their customs and traditions with them.(Stanford)
On the other hand, Imperialism is when a nation takes over a nation, but this time with the intent to command, or control its inhabitants.(Stanford)

"The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire"

The British Empire and the English Slave Trade 

The dominion of the British Empire took place during the 16th and the late 17th century. This was one of the most largest empires recorded in history. The area that was conquered was made up of 20% of the worlds terrain during that time. The Empire was composed of various countries such as Barbados, Australia, Ghana, Guyana, India and many more. 

Slaves of the British Empire mostly consisted of Africans imported from various areas of Africa. During this time, the British sought to establish sugarcane plantations on the location of their colonized Caribbean Islands. Most of the slaves they had kidnapped, were brought to the Caribbean during the Royal African Company (1672); basically a monopoly for the English slave trade. There were no blacks located in the Caribbean before this time; but but 1680 the rate of Africans residing in the Caribbean reached 70,000. Unfortunately, slaves were used as a kind of currency; traded for the purchase sugar and other foreign goods. Of course these trades only benefited the slave traders..

-- Deborah A.

(Source)