In this episode of Frankenstein: Dissected, Lisa and Ross discuss chapter 1 of Mary Shelley's classic novel and her father William Godwin.

We'll explore Victor Frankenstein's family background, his early childhood, and his introduction to the sciences. We'll also discuss the significance of the themes that are introduced in this opening chapter.

We also discuss William Godwin, an English philosopher, writer, journalist, and politician. He was one of the first proponents of philosophical anarchism, and his ideas influenced the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Godwin was also a novelist, and his most famous work is the 1794 novel Caleb Williams.

Mary Shelley was the daughter of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist philosopher and writer. Shelley was raised in a household that was full of intellectual discussion and debate. Her parents' ideas about freedom and equality had a profound influence on her, and they can be seen in her work, including her most famous novel, Frankenstein.

The relationship between Godwin and Mary Shelley was complex and often fraught. Godwin was a demanding and often critical father, and Shelley was a rebellious and independent daughter. However, they were also deeply devoted to each other, and their relationship was a source of both inspiration and conflict for Shelley.

Godwin's ideas about the importance of education and the power of the imagination had a profound influence on Shelley. He also encouraged her to write, and he was her first reader and critic. Shelley's dedication of Frankenstein to Godwin is a testament to the importance of his influence on her life and work.

Judgement and Justice - The Life and Diary of William Godwin Podcast:

https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/judgement-and-justice-life-and-diary-william-godwin

Godwins Diary:

http://godwindiary.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/index2.html

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