The role of the female author is a question often distorted by societal customs. Particularly, women in the nineteenth century seldom adopted the role, as writing remained as a man’s position. Rather, women more often entered the role of the wives or daughters of prominent male authors than authors themselves. The perspective of Mary Shelley’s position has been no different, as for much of history, she has been recognized primarily as the wife of Percy Shelley, a prominent Romantic writer (Spark). However, the works of Mary Shelley distinguish her as more than merely the wife of a famous author, but an established writer and activist herself. Mary Shelley was born the daughter of two prolific radicals: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin …show more content…
Her mother contracted blood poisoning due to a botched delivery, which caused the development of sepsis. Unfortunately, she died only two weeks following Mary’s birth, leaving Godwin to parent both Fanny and Mary alone (Brackett). Subsequent to Wollstonecraft’s untimely death, Godwin published Wollstonecraft's Wrongs of Woman (1798). Though he did so as a tribute to his wife, the autobiography resulted in harsh criticism of her, scandalizing much of the book’s audience (Spark). Despite her mother’s absence in her life, Mary Wollstonecraft served as an inspiration and influence to her daughter. Mary even spent much time reading at the sight of her mother’s grave in St. Pancras Churchyard (Brackett). Mary read all of her mother’s works, including Wollstonecraft's Memoirs (1798) and the critical attacks that work received. Despite these attacks, Mary claimed the last name Wollstonecraft in defense of her mother (Mellor, “Shelley”). As a young child, Mary spent much time under the care of her father, who remained a political activist (Brackett). A governess, Louisa Jones, assisted Godwin in caring for the girls, acting as Mary’s first—and only—true mother figure. However, she left Mary at the age of four with one of Godwin's protégés (Spark). Convinced that Mary and Fanny required an appropriate mother figure, Godwin married Jane Claremont (Brackett). She brought …show more content…
She did support Mary and Fanny’s education, but she limited Mary’s privacy by reading her mail and limiting her time with her father (Brackett). Following the marriage, Mary’s father opened a bookshop and publishing endeavor for children in 1805, naming it M. J. Godwin & Company. This business proved successful, and Mary published her first work, "Mounseer Nongtongpaw,” there at her father’s press at the age of 11 (Spark). Her lessons at home, however, were insufficient; Mary received a formal education in 1811 at a school reputed for religious dissenters during which time she was offered some separation from her stepmother. The following year, Mary began to suffer physically from her anxiety regarding her stepmother, developing a “weakness” in her left arm (Brackett). As a result, she separated from her family to live with an admirer of Godwin, William Baxter, in Dundee, Scotland