Her Lost Words and the Making of Frankenstein: Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley, and the Fight for Women's Voices

Historical fiction has the power to resurrect the voices of the past, illuminating the lives of those who shaped history in ways both profound and personal. Her Lost Words by Stephanie Marie Thornton does just that, offering a dual narrative of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, Mary Shelley. The novel intricately weaves their stories, painting a portrait of two women whose lives, though separated by time, were bound by a relentless pursuit of freedom, intellectual passion, and the written word. Reading Thornton’s depiction, I couldn’t help but feel drawn deeper into their worlds, compelled to revisit the actual writings of these remarkable women—Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—to better understand their legacies and how their words continue to shape feminist and literary discourse today.

The Fictional Reimagining: Her Lost Words

Stephanie Marie Thornton’s Her Lost Words brings the mother-daughter duo of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley to life in vivid detail. The novel captures their struggles, triumphs, and the echoes of Wollstonecraft’s ideals in Shelley’s work. As a philosopher and advocate, Wollstonecraft was revolutionary in her time, challenging the rigid expectations imposed on women in the 18th century. Her untimely death meant that Shelley, though raised with the intellectual influence of her father, William Godwin, had to navigate a world in which her mother’s presence was felt more through her writings than through lived experience.

Thornton’s novel highlights the ways in which Shelley, despite never knowing her mother personally, inherited her spirit of rebellion and inquiry. Through Thornton’s storytelling, I could feel the weight of Wollstonecraft’s legacy pressing on Shelley, as she forged her own path that ultimately led to the creation of Frankenstein, one of the most enduring works of English literature. But while historical fiction paints an emotional and narrative-driven picture, turning to the source material itself deepens our appreciation of these figures’ contributions to literature and philosophy.

The Revolutionary Philosophy: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792, remains one of the most significant early works of feminist philosophy. Written in response to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s assertion that women were naturally inferior to men and best suited for domestic life, Wollstonecraft’s work challenged such assumptions with unapologetic force. She argued that women were not naturally weaker or less rational but were instead denied education, limiting their potential. Her plea was simple yet radical for its time: educate women, and society as a whole would benefit.

Wollstonecraft’s work was groundbreaking, yet it was also controversial. Many dismissed her arguments as overly radical, and her personal life—including her affairs, illegitimate children, and unconventional views on marriage—was often used to discredit her intellectual contributions. Nevertheless, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman laid the foundation for future feminist movements, advocating for women’s independence, reason, and self-respect. Her calls for equality and rational education echo in modern debates on gender roles and systemic barriers, proving the continued relevance of her work.

For Mary Shelley, growing up with Wollstonecraft’s writings must have been both inspiring and daunting. She inherited not only her mother’s literary prowess but also her defiance of societal constraints. When she eloped with Percy Bysshe Shelley as a teenager, she was well aware of the scandal it would cause—much like her mother’s own defiant choices. But beyond personal rebellion, Shelley’s most famous work, Frankenstein, carries unmistakable traces of Wollstonecraft’s influence.

The Literary Legacy: Frankenstein

Written in 1816, Frankenstein is more than just a gothic horror novel—it is a profound meditation on creation, responsibility, and the consequences of exclusion. While often interpreted as a critique of unchecked scientific ambition, it is also deeply feminist in its undertones. The absence of maternal figures in the novel is striking. Victor Frankenstein recklessly attempts to create life without a woman’s involvement, and in doing so, he brings forth a being that is rejected and tormented. This can be read as an allegory for the dangers of denying or dismissing the role of women in creation, both biological and intellectual.

Shelley, in many ways, was responding to a world that sought to deny her mother’s influence. She was acutely aware of the way women’s intellectual contributions were marginalized, and she infused her novel with themes of alienation and suffering that could just as easily apply to Wollstonecraft’s treatment by society. Frankenstein asks what happens when society deems someone unworthy, whether it be an abandoned creature or a woman denied her voice.

Additionally, Shelley’s emphasis on education, self-discovery, and the moral responsibilities of knowledge reflect Wollstonecraft’s insistence on the transformative power of learning. The creature in Frankenstein seeks knowledge and, in doing so, gains a tragic awareness of his own rejection. Similarly, Wollstonecraft argued that denying women education created not only injustice but also societal detriment.

A Legacy That Endures

Her Lost Words draws inspiration from the lives of the women behind A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and Frankenstein, highlighting the enduring connection between their stories and ideas. Mary Wollstonecraft laid the groundwork for advocating for women’s intellectual and personal freedoms. Mary Shelley, whether consciously or subconsciously, extended this legacy into fiction, using the horror genre to question the consequences of exclusion and unchecked ambition. Through historical fiction, philosophical treatises, and gothic literature, these women’s words continue to resonate, urging readers to question, challenge, and create.

If this journey through history and literature has sparked your curiosity, join us on the Gateway Books podcast, where we delve deeper into the stories behind the stories, exploring the intersections of fiction and history. Let’s continue the conversation and discover what other stories the past has to offer.