"The Mask of Anarchy" and "Frankenstein". A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Women in 19th Century England
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• The Mask of Anarchy and its Vindication
  • The Maniac Maid and Peterloo
  • The Maniac Maid and 19th Century Women
  • Freedom and Universal Rights
  • Joint Revolution: Call to Women and Men
• Frankenstein and its Vindication
  • The Female Creature
  • The Creature's Divide
  • Hope and Despair
  • The Family Unit
• The Mask and Frankenstein: a Vindication of the Rights of Women

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to demonstrate the feminist themes present in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s *The Mask of Anarchy* and Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein*, arguing that both works incorporate a strong call for women’s rights. It examines the influence of Mary Wollstonecraft’s ideas on both writings, highlighting the similarities in their approach to gender equality despite their different styles.

• The influence of Mary Wollstonecraft’s *A Vindication of the Rights of Woman* on *The Mask of Anarchy* and *Frankenstein*.
• The role of women in 19th century England and their limited opportunities.
• The portrayal of women in both texts and their potential for agency and influence.
• The connection between societal injustice and the oppression of women.
• The power of language and narrative to challenge established power structures.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction sets the stage for the thesis, highlighting the feminist themes in both works. It explores the role of women in 19th century England and introduces the importance of Mary Wollstonecraft’s ideas as a point of reference.

Chapter 2 explores the situation of women in 19th century England, focusing on the limitations imposed by patriarchal societal structures and various discourses on ideal womanhood. It examines the impact of religious, legal, and medical discourses on women’s lives and their limited access to education and economic opportunities.

Chapter 3 provides an overview of Mary Wollstonecraft’s life and work, focusing on her contributions to the feminist discourse and her critique of patriarchal societal structures. It examines her argument in *A Vindication of the Rights of Woman* about the rationality of women and the importance of providing them with equal rights.

Chapter 4 analyzes *The Mask of Anarchy*, focusing on its feminist themes and its call for a more egalitarian society. It explores the role of women in the poem and their potential for leading social change, emphasizing the importance of female agency and their power to inspire men to action.

Chapter 5 explores *Frankenstein* through a feminist lens, examining the portrayal of women in the novel and the potential for female agency despite their seemingly passive roles. It focuses on the female voice in the novel and its critique of patriarchal power structures.

Chapter 6 draws a comparison between *The Mask of Anarchy* and *Frankenstein*, highlighting the similarities in their feminist themes and their shared connection to Wollstonecraft’s ideas. It examines how both works contribute to the larger discourse on gender equality and the need for social change.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords of this thesis include feminism, gender equality, women’s rights, 19th century England, Mary Wollstonecraft, *A Vindication of the Rights of Woman*, *The Mask of Anarchy*, *Frankenstein*, patriarchal society, female agency, societal injustice, social change, and narrative power.