Luddite Movement and Frankenstein

Although they do not seem to relate, the Luddite Movement that occurred in 1811 and 1812 and a theme that shows in Frankenstein have something in common. In the novel, Mary Shelley warns the reader of the forbidden knowledge and fast changing science and its consequences. For instance, the result of Victor Frankenstein’s experiment of creating a new creature using dangerous science knowledge was absolute despair and ruin. Maybe the author wanted to tell the society to take a step back and consider the effects of newly introduced technology. In this sense, the Luddite Movement could be seen as the bad effect of new technology that was poured into the society without any term for the existing society to adjust to the changes. Because the Industrial Revolution made huge changes in such short notice, no one saw the bad consequences coming such as the emergence of poor working conditions and complaints of existing high-skilled workers.

This is a poster published in 1811 (I guess by the government?)

saying that 'evil-minded persons" who destroy the machines will be arrested

(Source: The Luddites )

Luddite Movement

Luddite movement was a social movement against Industrial Revolution. It began in 1811 in Nottingham, Britain. The British textile artisans began to protest against changes produced by the revolution. Highly skilled workers at that time began to feel threatened by the new machines the employers started to use. Employers hired low skilled workers and paid them less than the high skilled workers and still managed to produce the amount the market demanded. So the artisans destroyed the machines in the factories as a way to complain. The harsh economy at that time caused by the Napoleonic Wars contributed in stimulating the movement. The workers’ complaints grew over poor working conditions. The movement became very serious that the artisans that had participated in the movement collided with the British Army. Nonetheless, the movement quickly spread to Yorkshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. Realizing how serious this was, the Parliament passed the Frame Breaking Act so if people were caught breaking the machines, they were to be sentenced to death.

P.S Here is a link to a video clip that explains Luddite movement !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOXuiA7E8jI

(Source: Luddite movement, Luddite movement#2 )

Technology and it's connection with Frankenstein

During the Industrial revolution new technologies had a big impact on society, It changed the way of how people lived and think. In Frankenstein, we can see that the new technologies that Dr. Frankenstein acquired led him to the creation of the creature. The new technologies had a positive and negative effects towards him. The positive effect is that he is able to create a creature using his own knowledge. The negative effect is that it led to chaos, since the creature murdered a lot of people along the way. With new technological advancement there is always a positive and negative effect to it. 

Natural philosophy and Frankenstein

Without a doubt, there is a connection between natural philosophy and Frankenstein. In volume 1 of chapter 1, the young Victor clearly states that ‘Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science.’ When he was 13 years old, he came across the works of Cornelius Agrippa, a German physician. Then he went on reading works of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. From then on, he started to examine nature and things that happen in his daily routine. One day, when he happens to watch a terrible thunderstorm, he is excited to see the thunder make an oak disappear. It is his father that first introduces to him what electricity is. He does a few experiments on electricity and one of them was an allusion to Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment. Later on when he goes to the University of Ingolstadt, Victor meets M. Waldman, a professor at the university. After listening to a lecture of his and talking to him in person regarding Victor’s issues on his study, Victor’s prejudice on modern science such as chemistry disappears. Victor continues to study Natural philosophy as well as modern science.

(Picture from: Benjamin Franklin )

Science and how it connects with Frankenstein

As we can see in the book, Victor Frankenstein has vast knowledge in science, and in the field of anatomy. He is able to construct the creature using various body parts that he collected. He knew how muscle and arteries worked. Victor Frankenstein professor also mention about the scientist who discovered blood circulation and scientist who used microscopes to make miracle happens. His professor quotes “They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe” During the 18th century William Harvey figured out how blood circulate throughout the body. The book mention the scientist that made major contribution in the field of science and is able to show various medical improvements that were made during this time. We can see that Victor Frankenstein interested in science motivates him to come up with new experiment and making new discoveries. Scientist during the 18th century also wanted to make new scientific discoveries, so that science can expand even more.

Improvements in Medical Practice during the 17th and 18th century

There were major improvement towards medical practice during the 17th and 18th centuries. Important medical researchers such as William Harvey, and Anton van Leeu made amazing discoveries. William Harvey figured out how blood circulated throughout the body. Anton Van leeuwenhoek made use of the microscope and made discoveries on red blood  cells, bacteria and protozoa. One of the medical researcher who invented vaccination was Edward Jenner after discovering the relationship between cowpox and smallpox.Thomas Sydenham made improvements in clinical practice by developing treatment procedure which included careful, detailed observation and medical records. Another major medical discoveries was vitamins. Digitalis was another new drug that was developed. There were two science field created during this time Pathologic Anatomy and Histology. The person who created the field of histology was Marie Francois Bichat.  Giovanni B Margagni was the founder of Pathologic Anatomy. (Source:Oracle Thinkquest)

Natural Philosophy

Natural philosophy refers to the study of nature and the physical universe. It is also said to be the origins of modernity. It focused on studying and observing all aspects of nature and the function and the structure of natural objects. Some of the well-known natural philosophers and natural scientists are Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Galileo Galilei, Robert Boyle and John Herschel. There is no doubt that natural philosophy contributed to the advancement of modern science and technology.

Here are some quotes from the natural philosophers and scientists.

To the natural philosopher there is no natural object unimportant or trifling… a soap bubble… an apple… a pebble… A mind that has once imbibed a taste for scientific enquiry has within itself an inexhaustible source of pure and exciting contemplations. Where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceived neither novelty nor beauty, he walks in the midst of wonders.  
John Herschel, A Preliminary Discourse io the Study of Natural Philosophy

Someone asked me – what’s the use of a balloon? I replied – what’s the use of a newborn baby?

Benjamin Franklin, during the launch of the first ‘true’ hydrogen balloon by Dr Alexandre Charles

(Source: Benjamin Franklin )

We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.  

Isaac Newton, Principia: The system of the world

 (Source: Natural Philosopher)

(Overall sources: Natural Philosophy)



Science: Luigi Galvani & "animal electricity"

In the late 1786, Italian surgeon Luigi Galvani was experimenting with electricity and dead frogs. By applying sparks of static electricity to the legs of dead frogs, he discovered he could make frog legs twitch. He would also hang dead frogs from brass hooks during thunderstorms (so the metal would conduct electricity), which would also result in twitching. He called this "animal electricity," but it was soon renamed "galvinism."

In the early 1800s, Galvani's nephew toured Europe, demonstrating galvinism on ox heads and even on recently executed criminals. In one case, a London paper reported that the man's the whole body quivered, the right arm raised, and one eye opened, and that it looked as though the whole body were coming back to life. (Source: Frankenstein, a Cultural History)

The image above is a political cartoon from the United States in 1836. So, galvinism was known in the U.S. as well. ("In this 1836 American political cartoon, Jacksonian newspaper editor Francis Preston Blair rises from the grave after receiving a jolt from a galvanic battery." (Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine)