The Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley: Impact of Galvanism Research Paper

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Galvanism is the scientific method of bringing dead life forms back to life through exposure to controlled electrical sparks. Throughout Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she depicts the theme of getting life back from the dead. Most researchers concur that electricity has become the wellspring of life in the contemporary world. Galvanism, a hypothesis proposed by Luigi Galvani, is the concept of recreating life by exposing a recently dead life form to electric sparks. Victor Frankenstein’s fixation with resurrecting a human corpse reveals Mary Shelley’s beliefs in science. Galvanism is the sole inspiration for Frankenstein’s novel by Shelly and a vital discovery for the human species.

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is based on galvanism. According to Shelley, galvanism has a significant overall impact on her storyline. The concept is exemplified by her central protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, whose inquisitive curiosity leads him to become fixated on returning a deceased person into existence. His curiosity and research passion drive him to abandon his personal life and family. Frankkesiten begins when a lightning bolt strikes an oak tree, leaving it as “thin ribands of wood” (Shelley 26). The natural disaster piques Frankenstein’s interest even further to discern the reason behind the phenomena. He instantly starts working on his goal of resurrecting a cadaver. He “infuses a spark of existence into a dead creature lying at his feet,” bringing it to existence (Shelley 43). Frankenstein applies a similar approach as Luigi Galvani, who restored mobility to the frog legs. However, since the Frankenstein-created person “lacks consciousness and is driven by electricity,” it lacks people’s skills and abilities. The creation experiences a tough time expressing and comprehending what others around him are feeling or saying. Most people, therefore, shun the creature because of his hideous physique, so he never has the opportunity to sit, listen, and learn about the human species.

Because galvanism is a critical scientific discovery, it is still commonly utilized today. Electrophysiological is a clinical study of the electrical characteristics of living tissues and organs that records the electrical charge that travels on a broad range of scales from a solitary ion channel to complete tissues (Ball & Featherstone, 2019). Electrophysiology is essential in studying electrical impulses in the heart and other critical organs. Galvanism research delves into neurons’ electrical impulses and potential cell and tissue activity. Galvanism aid in deep brain experiments and other treatments that help patients with motor or cognitive issues. However, the most noteworthy applications of galvanism-derived innovation are defibrillators. Defibrillators are often used to resuscitate the heart of a freshly deceased human. Resuscitating a deceased person is accomplished by delivering high-voltage electrical pulses to their chest (Ball & Featherstone, 2019). If the process is successful, the individual has a possibility of regaining consciousness and living ordinarily. Galvanism is currently included in biological and social research involving human beings. It has laid the groundwork for various scientific and clinical advances today.

Galvanism is the technique of resurrecting a corpse and advancing Luigi Galvani’s research on using electricity to advance and extend life. After Luigi Galvani brought this concept to the scientific world, electricity became recognized as the symbol of life. In her book Frankenstein, Mary Shelley effectively demonstrates the notion of galvanism through his fictional character Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein’s fascination with resurrecting a human corpse reflects some of the possibilities that electricity can apply to the betterment of human life.

References

Ball, C. M., & Featherstone, P. J. (2019). Medical galvanism – a prelude to defibrillation. Web.

Shelley, M. (1994). Frankenstein. Courier Corporation.

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IvyPanda. 2023. "The Novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley: Impact of Galvanism." April 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-novel-frankenstein-by-mary-shelley-impact-of-galvanism/.

1. IvyPanda. "The Novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley: Impact of Galvanism." April 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-novel-frankenstein-by-mary-shelley-impact-of-galvanism/.


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