Mary Shelley 2018

Wollstonecraft's death and Mary's birth

Mary Wollstonecraft dies shortly after giving birth to Mary Godwin, shaping the girl's early life and future ambitions. The film frames this moment as a catalytic start to Mary’s path toward independence and writing. This event sets the emotional backdrop for Mary’s lifelong pursuit of identity and voice.

Sixteen years later: life with Godwin and the stepmother's push to send her away

Sixteen years pass and Mary is living with her father William Godwin, her stepmother, and her stepsister Claire Clairmont. A negative encounter with her stepmother triggers the decision to send Mary away to grow more freely. William relents, hoping to give Mary space to become her own person.

Mary's Scottish sojourn and the meeting with Percy Shelley

Mary is sent to stay with a good friend in Scotland, where she meets Percy Bysshe Shelley, a radical poet who is already married. The encounter marks the beginning of a transformative relationship in Mary's life. This meeting becomes the catalyst for the later events surrounding her works and fame.

Claire's ruse and the renewed connection with Shelley

Mary is summoned home when Claire pretends she is on her deathbed, but the ruse is exposed. William Godwin later brings Percy Shelley to the household as a new student, and Mary and Shelley renew their affections. The renewed bond sets the stage for the couple's controversial life together.

The elopement and life in Bloomsbury

Mary and Shelley elope, taking Claire with them, and settle in Bloomsbury with little money. Shelley borrows against his wealthy father's estate to fund their lavish lifestyle, straining finances and complicating their relationships. The early years of their union are marked by ambition and precarious money matters.

Open relationship debates and love's tension

At a dinner party, Shelley flirts with Claire while Mary meets a friend who makes advances toward her. Shelley argues that lovers should be free and pushes Mary to accept multiple partners, challenging traditional boundaries. The couple grapples with desire, autonomy, and trust.

Galvanism and Byron arrive on the scene

The trio attends a public galvanism demonstration where a dead frog twitches under electricity, and the poet Lord Byron is in the audience. Claire is drawn to Byron, adding volatile dynamic to the group’s romantic entanglements. The event deepens their sense of celebrity and danger in their circle.

Creditors force flight and the birth tragedy

Shelley's creditors arrive unexpectedly, forcing the group to flee in the rain to cheaper lodgings. Mary gives birth during this upheaval, but her baby dies soon after. Claire reveals she is pregnant by Byron, foreshadowing further complications with their social circle.

Geneva invitation and Byron's conflicted hospitality

The group travels to a villa near Geneva, where Byron’s invitation proves more wishful than welcoming. Byron makes it clear he will not be a steady provider, and his treatment of Claire grows contemptuous. The stay intensifies the group’s tensions as romantic loyalties crumble.

Frankenstein takes shape back in England

After returning to England, Mary begins writing Frankenstein. Publishers resist releasing the work under a woman’s name, but with a foreword by Shelley it is accepted for anonymous publication. The book becomes a success, initially credited to Shelley until Mary’s authorship is revealed.

Mary secures authorship and income

Mary’s father arranges a second publication of Frankenstein under her own name, ensuring she derives income from the work. This marks a turning point in her independence as a writer. Shelley supports the move, even as their relationship continues to evolve.

The marriage and lasting partnership

Mary and Percy eventually marry and remain together until his death at age 29. The film notes that Mary never remarries after his death. Their lifelong partnership leaves a lasting imprint on her legacy as a writer and thinker.