Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley was born in 1797 and died in 1851 in Somers Town, London. She was best known for Frankenstein. She conceived the idea for her novel in Geneva, Switzerland where she was spending a summer with Lord Byron, John William Polidori and Claire Clairmont, her stepsister.
She was married to the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Mary Shelley remained a political radical throughout her life. Her works often argue that cooperation and sympathy, particularly as practised by women in the family, were the ways to reform civil society.
She wrote of her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea."

La Carta de Elizabeth

La carta de Elizabeth a su primo, Víctor Frankenstein, revela el cariño que le tenía. Además nos anticipa el trágico final de Justine Moritz.

Queridísimo primo,

Has estado enfermo pero unas líneas de tu parte serían suficientes para tranquilizarnos. Le aconsejé al tío no viajar a Ingolstadt pero quisiera estar allí personalmente atendiéndote como una enfermera. Te imagino en manos de una vieja enfermera que no puede adivinar tus deseos ni atenderte de la forma que lo hubiera hecho tu pobre prima. Sin embargo todo eso ya pasó. Clerval me escribe que estas mejor y espero que confirmes eso de tu propia mano.

Elizabeth´s Letter

"My dearest Cousin,

"You have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear kind Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account. You are forbidden to write—to hold a pen; yet one word from you, dear Victor, is necessary to calm our apprehensions. For a long time I have thought that each post would bring this line, and my persuasions have restrained my uncle from undertaking a journey to Ingolstadt. I have prevented his encountering the inconveniences and perhaps dangers of so long a journey, yet how often have I regretted not being able to perform it myself! I figure to myself that the task of attending on your sickbed has devolved on some mercenary old nurse, who could never guess your wishes nor minister to them with the care and affection of your poor cousin. Yet that is over now: Clerval writes that indeed you are getting better. I eagerly hope that you will confirm this intelligence soon in your own handwriting.

The Friend

I came at length opposite to the inn at which the various diligences and carriages usually stopped. Here I paused, I knew not why; but I remained some minutes with my eyes fixed on a coach that was coming towards me from the other end of the street. As it drew nearer I observed that it was the Swiss diligence; it stopped just where I was standing, and on the door being opened, I perceived Henry Clerval, who, on seeing me, instantly sprung out. "My dear Frankenstein," exclaimed he, "how glad I am to see you! How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting!"

El Monstruo

Fue en una noche triste de noviembre que vi el cumplimiento de mis afanes. Con una ansiedad que casi equivalía a agonía, junté los instrumentos de la vida a mi alrededor, que podría infundir una chispa a esa cosa que yacía a mis pies. Ya era la una de la mañana, la lluvia repiqueteaba estrepitosamente contra los cristales, y mi vela estaba casi apagada, cuando, por el rayo de luz medio extinguida, vi el ojo amarillo opaco de la criatura abierto. Respiró con fuerza, y un movimiento convulsivo agitó sus extremidades.

Giving Life

One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal invested with life. From where, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? It was a bold question, and one which has ever been considered as a mystery; yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries. I revolved these circumstances in my mind and determined thenceforth to apply myself more particularly to those branches of natural philosophy which relate to physiology. Unless I had been animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been irksome and almost intolerable. To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death. I became acquainted with the science of anatomy, but this was not sufficient; I must also observe the natural decay and corruption of the human body. In my education my father had taken the greatest precautions that my mind should be impressed with no supernatural horrors. I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition or to have feared the apparition of a spirit. 

Una Nueva Vida

Cuando cumplí los diecisiete años papá consideró necesario que aprendiera otras cosas y se decidió que estudiaría en la universidad de Ingolstadt. Sin embargo, un acontecimiento cruel demoró mi partida. Elizabeth se enfermó, contrayendo fiebre escarlata. Su salud pareció debilitarse. Mamá, al escuchar que su querida hija peligraba, decidió vigilar su enfermedad junto a su cama por horas, a pesar de los consejos de quienes le advertían sobre los peligros del contagio. Así, al tiempo, Elizabeth recuperó su salud, pero mamá contrajo la fiebre. Uno de sus últimos deseos en su lecho de muerte fue que Elizabeth y yo contrajéramos matrimonio y que Elizabeth ocupara su lugar en la familia.

My Story

I am from Geneva and my family is rich and influential. My father occupied public offices. He married at an old age.

One of his most intimate friends, Mr. Beaufort, was a merchant who fell into poverty after some bad businesses. Being unable to continue living in a country where he had been rich he went to Lucerne to live with his daughter. My father tried to find him and after some time he discovered him lying on bed, sick and with his daughter attending him.

The daughter had tried to find work but the father, worsening his illness, died, and left his child without any means of support. When my father found Caroline, the daughter, he decided to help her. After some time he married the daughter of his friend.

There was a great difference of age between them but my father loved her tenderly and tried to mend what she had suffered by giving her all she wanted. After some time my father quitted his job and decided to take his wife to Italy, where she could rest and recover.

Un Viajero

Julio 7, 17-

Señora Saville, Inglaterra

Unas pocas líneas para contarte que estoy bien y bastante avanzado en mi viaje. Mis hombres son valientes y los hielos que flotan a nuestro alrededor no parecen afectarlos. Ya alcanzamos una gran altitud, pero como es verano, y aunque no tan caliente como en Inglaterra, los vientos del sur traen un grado de calor que no esperaba.

Ningún accidente ocurrió hasta ahora que sea significativo. La falta de viento o una que otra filtración son cosas que todo navegante no toma en cuenta.

Adiós, mí querida hermana. Ten por seguro que no voy a buscar el peligro. Voy a ser perseverante y prudente…

No Friends

Archangel, 28^thMarch, 17—

To Mrs. Saville, England

How slowly the time passes here, accompanied by frost and snow! Yet a second step is taken towards my enterprise. I have hired a vessel and am occupied in collecting my sailors; those whom I have already engaged appear to be men on whom I can depend and are certainly possessed of intrepid courage.

But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy, and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil, I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in depression. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling …

Frankenstein

St. Petersburgh, Dec.11th, 17— 

A la señorita Saville, England

Te alegrarás de saber que ninguna desgracia acompañó el comienzo de una empresa que considerabas riesgosa. Llegué ayer y mi primera tarea es asegurar a mi querida hermana que estoy bien y con confianza en el éxito de mi emprendimiento.