Ellen Moers wrote “Female Gothic: The Monsters Mother” to present writing styles in the eighteen century, in particular to women writers. Gothic writing was the choice for many women writers this style aimed to bring a current of fear through out their readers. Moers provides numerous of examples of authors and their gothic style. She focuses of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” written in 1818 because she felt her book changed they style of gothic writing into what it is today, science fiction. “Frankenstein” did not provide the typical women victim, heroisms, or happy ending. “Frankenstein” presented fear in terror in the creation of life and motherhood, rather than the happy fairy tales most associate with new life. Moers believes Mary’s own life experience, her dealings with death and birth through her own life and her tragedy with her own child bearing experience contributed to the creation of “Frankenstein.”
I did read “Frankenstein” differently than Ellen Moers. I believed this story was about the dangerous of knowledge and taking it upon ones self, and trying to play god. After learning more about Mary Shelly and her life experience, I can see how Moers article suggested “Frankenstein” was about the terror of motherhood. Also her statement of Mary being a mother herself contributed to her style of writing. She also provided readings from Mary’s journal and cited lines through out the book that related to a feeling or tragedy in her life and projected it in Frankenstein’s own feelings with the monster he created.
More on Ellen Moers.
http://library.ucf.edu/frankenstein/Shelley.asp
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