The Evolution of Frankenstein: Analyzing the Key Differences Between the 1818 and 1831 Editions

📘The 1831 edition of Frankenstein includes Mary Shelley's account of how the book was written, providing valuable insight into the creation process.

🔍The 1831 version has several textual changes, including an expanded and split Chapter 1, leading to variations in the numbering and count of chapters.

👨‍👧‍👦In the 1818 edition, Elizabeth Lavenza is portrayed as Victor Frankenstein's cousin, while in the 1831 edition, she is depicted as a poor orphan taken in by Victor's family.

⚡️Shelley introduces the concept of galvanism, the power to animate animal muscle through electricity, in the 1831 edition, suggesting it as a secret power behind Victor's creation of the monster.

📖🔎Many readers are more familiar with modern editions based on the 1831 version, but scholars argue that the original 1818 text better reflects Mary Shelley's original vision.

What is the main difference between the 1818 and 1831 editions of Frankenstein?

—The main difference is that the 1831 edition includes Mary Shelley's account of how the book was written and several textual changes that alter the story and characters.

Why did Mary Shelley make changes to the 1831 edition of Frankenstein?

—Mary Shelley made changes in response to the harsh criticism the novel received, particularly from conservative critics who objected to its moral content.

Who is Elizabeth Lavenza in the 1818 and 1831 editions?

—In the 1818 edition, Elizabeth is Victor Frankenstein's cousin, while in the 1831 edition, she is portrayed as a poor orphan taken in by Victor's family.

What is galvanism, and how is it related to Frankenstein?

—Galvanism is the concept of using electricity to animate animal muscle. In the 1831 edition, it is suggested as the secret power behind Victor's creation of the monster.

Which edition of Frankenstein better reflects Mary Shelley's original vision?

—Scholars argue that the original 1818 edition better reflects Mary Shelley's original vision, although many readers are more familiar with modern editions based on the 1831 version.

00:09The video explores the major additions and changes in the two editions of Frankenstein - the 1818 original text and the 1831 version.

00:15The 1831 edition includes Mary Shelley's account of how the book came to be written and several textual changes.

00:29Chapter 1 is expanded and split into two chapters in the 1831 edition, leading to variations in the numbering and count of chapters.

00:43In the 1818 edition, Elizabeth Lavenza is Victor Frankenstein's cousin, while in the 1831 edition, she is portrayed as a poor orphan taken in by Victor's family.

01:17The 1831 edition suggests that electricity and galvanism, the power to animate animal muscle, played a role in Victor's creation of the monster.

01:45Mary Shelley made changes to the 1831 edition in response to criticism and conservative objections to the moral content of the novel.

01:57While many readers are more familiar with modern editions based on the 1831 version, scholars argue that the original 1818 edition better reflects Mary Shelley's original vision.