Mary and Her Monster
An exhibit exploring Mary Shelley’s life, times, and motivations for writing Frankenstein
Member of exhibit development team
Developer and script writer for an interactive biographical panel:
What Would You Do in Mary's Shoes?
Winner of an American Alliance of Museums Award for Excellence, 2018
If you were faced with the same challenges as Mary,
what would you do?
Challenge 1
Your life at home stinks. Your dad just remarried, and he's never around. Plus, your stepmom resents you and treats her kids way better than you. You’re lonely, even in a loud, busy house.
What would you do?
A: Make friends at school and spend all your time with them.
Result: You can’t. In 1810, school costs money and your dad doesn’t have it. He teaches you at home. Besides, your parents are famous political radicals, so people think your family is weird.
B: Do stuff by yourself. You don’t need anyone else.
Result: The only place you can be alone is at your mom’s grave. You spend a lot of time there, reading and writing, because she was a writer.
C: Tell your dad how much you hate your stepfamily. Maybe he’ll fix it.
Result: This would never work. In 1810, a kid’s happiness isn’t considered all that important. Your dad would probably be angry if you complained.
Challenge 2
Your dad is fed up with your attitude. Your stepmom says that you’re out of control. He’s decided to send you away to live with a family he knows in Scotland.
What would you do?
A: Tell your dad that your stepmom is lying. He should believe you.
Result: He won’t. In 1812, parents think they’re always right, no matter what. The more you complain, the less your dad will want to deal with you.
B: Throw a fit. You’re not going down quietly.
Result: This just cements your dad’s decision. He writes a letter to your host family apologizing for the trouble you’ll cause. He tells them not to treat you like you’re special.
C: Go with it. At least this way you can get away from your stepfamily.
Result: Scotland’s not so bad. The family you’re staying with is happy together, and they like spending time with you. You feel welcome and loved for the first time in ages.
Challenge 3
After two years, you come home. You fall hard for your dad’s newest student, a famous poet—who’s already married. Your dad disapproves. You and your crush meet in secret, but you know you can’t be together for real.
What would you do?
A: Be realistic. Try to let go and move on.
Result: You’re too in love to be realistic. Your mom had lovers, but people used that to discredit her writing. You don’t want that to happen to you, but you’re idealistic like she was.
B: Make plans to run away together.
Result: Leaving in the middle of the night, you and your lover drive to the coast, taking a small fishing boat across to France. The trip is stormy and cold, making you seasick.
C: Try to convince your dad to accept your relationship.
Result: Your dad won’t budge. Even though he used to believe in free love, he refuses to let you pursue this relationship. He forbids you to see each other.
Challenge 4
You and your lover make it to France, but you’re almost totally broke. Your plan was to travel to Switzerland, but you can barely afford a hotel room. You’re stranded. Then you find out that you’re pregnant.
What would you do?
A: Turn around and go home. This isn’t going to work.
Result: You can’t. You’ve burned all your bridges back home. If you go back, you’ll just be broke and homeless in England rather than France.
B: Use your credit card or go to an ATM for money.
Result: In 1814, there are no credit cards or ATMs. But you’re lucky that your lover is a famous writer. A bank lends you some cash, but it doesn’t get you very far.
C: Keep going. This is a romantic adventure!
Result: Because of low funds, you walk across France. It’s a total disaster area from the war that just ended. You make it to Switzerland, but your lover is tired and decides it’s time to go home.
Challenge 5
Back in England, your baby girl is born and then dies. You’re heartbroken. You dream of her coming back to life, but your lover doesn’t want to talk about it. Loan sharks are after you and you’re still broke.
What would you do?
A: Try to get out of bed and look for a job.
Result: In 1815, a woman from a middle-class family never works outside the home. It’s your dad or husband’s job to take care of you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
B: Leave your lover and go back to your dad’s house.
Result: You miss your dad, but he hasn’t spoken to you since you ran away. He believes you threw away your future. You didn’t think he would abandon you so quickly.
C: Leave the country again. Nothing good ever happened here.
Result: Your stepsister wants to meet up with an old boyfriend in Switzerland and brings you along. Your lover borrows money to take a carriage and rent a house there.
Challenge 6
You all spend the summer in Switzerland with your stepsister’s boyfriend, another famous poet. The weather is stormy, so you mostly hang out by the fireplace, talking and reading stories out loud. One night, you’re challenged to write your own scary story.
What would you write about?