Frankenstein’s Ecological Alchemy: Unveiling Nature and Science in Mary Shelley’s Novel

The present thesis aims to offer an ecocritical reading of "Frankenstein", with a specific focus on the relationship between mankind, nature, and science. Mary Shelley responds to an accelerating modernity and to a cultural climate in which the human-nature relationship was being redefined, by crafting the narrative of Victor Frankenstein, a character embodying both the Enlightenment scientific rationalism and the Romantic aspiration to transcend boundaries. Frankenstein attempts to use science to assert his dominance over a feminised nature and mark man’s independence from it. The result of this act of violence, the Creature, is then analysed as both a destructive force of nature, unleashed by human intervention, and a hybrid product of technology and human culture. Attention is finally placed on the theme of responsibility and care, emphasising the need for an accountable scientific practice which prioritises the intricate web of relationships connecting humans and all other beings within a complex ecosystem in delicate balance.