A brief overview...
The Industrial Revolution (1760 - 1830) is known as the period of time in which many different aspects of life (such as technology & communication, transportation, and social structures) became more advanced whether that be for the better or for the worse. Trade routes expanded which lead to the increase in movement of people. The distribution of products and lands became more widespread due to increased means of travel which was made possible by the invention of the steam engine by James Watt. Other inventions, such as cotton gin by Eli Whitney, the telegraph by Samuel Morse, the sewing machine by Elias Howe, the transatlantic cable by Cyrus Field (which enabled communication between the US and the UK), the telephone by Alexander Bell, the lightbulb by Thomas Edison, and the conveyer belt by Henry Ford. All these inventions enabled greater efficiency and therefore greater production of products. Transportation also was greatly advanced in this period of time, with the invention of bicycles. Steam boats and trains were able to be created due to the invention of the steam engine. The creation of pavement and the iron bridge (by Abraham Darby) allowed the crossing of rivers without the need for taking a boat.
There were quite a lot of advancements in social structure during the Industrial Revolution, such as USA becoming free and the slaves getting rights. The middle class was able to gain more rights for themselves from the nobility thanks to strong union leaders and strategic strikes, etc. Population also grew quite quickly at the time, from immigration as well as improved standards of living. While a lot of these changes are for the better, there are in fact some not so desirable social issues that arose from this. During this period of time, democracy and communism were the two primary forms of government. The government controlled the economy of the time, with big cooperations and companies lead by the "robber barons" bribing the government to let them manipulate around laws.
There were quite a lot of advancements in social structure during the Industrial Revolution, such as USA becoming free and the slaves getting rights. The middle class was able to gain more rights for themselves from the nobility thanks to strong union leaders and strategic strikes, etc. Population also grew quite quickly at the time, from immigration as well as improved standards of living. While a lot of these changes are for the better, there are in fact some not so desirable social issues that arose from this. During this period of time, democracy and communism were the two primary forms of government. The government controlled the economy of the time, with big cooperations and companies lead by the "robber barons" bribing the government to let them manipulate around laws.
Medicine was no exception to the advancements during the Industrial Revolution. Edward Jenner developed a method to protect people from smallpox by exposing them to the cowpox virus, a method later known as vaccination. Rene Laennec invented the stethoscope. James Bundell performed the first successful transfusion of human blood. All these improvements in medicine and healing lead many to wonder what wasn't possible with time. With many new inventions in science helping elongate human life, it isn't a surprise some wonder if it was possible for the dead to be brought back to life.
The Origin of Frankenstein
Mary Shelley wrote this groundbreaking novel for fun in a competition against her future husband Percy Shelley, her stepsister Claire Chairmont, Lord Byron and Dr. John Polidori, Byron's physician. After reading Fantasmagoriana, they decided to try their hands on writing their own stories. Shelley's originally short story of Frankenstein was loved by her husband, who convinced her to make it into a full length novel.
The core idea explored in Frankenstein is the idea of bring someone back from the dead from body parts. This idea wouldn't have existed if Shelley wasn't living in the Industrial Revolution. All the medical advances made back then drove one to think about the limits of science, and defying death. The idea of making life from (recently) dead body parts and electricity is quite an advanced idea, and probably very probable to the people of the time, which makes it even more of a horror story.
The message Frankenstein sends to it's readers is to not try to become God, which is quite applicable to the time. Many scientific advancements have been made, and Shelley is warning against becoming too ambitious and attempting to defy nature as tragedy will befall one if one does so.
The core idea explored in Frankenstein is the idea of bring someone back from the dead from body parts. This idea wouldn't have existed if Shelley wasn't living in the Industrial Revolution. All the medical advances made back then drove one to think about the limits of science, and defying death. The idea of making life from (recently) dead body parts and electricity is quite an advanced idea, and probably very probable to the people of the time, which makes it even more of a horror story.
The message Frankenstein sends to it's readers is to not try to become God, which is quite applicable to the time. Many scientific advancements have been made, and Shelley is warning against becoming too ambitious and attempting to defy nature as tragedy will befall one if one does so.
Nature vs. Machines
Even with the constant introduction of new machinery during that period that undoubtedly makes everyday life much easier, many people didn't trust the machines and would rather stick to what was created by nature. This is quite evident in Frankenstein. When Frankenstein's monster was created he was essentially a machine, created for the purpose of experimentation. When Frankenstein's monster tried to become accepted in society, he was feared and hated by the people because he was un-natural.