"One difference between the 1818 and 1831 editions of the text involves galvanism, or the use of electricity to stimulate nerve impulses. Mary was aware of Galvani's discovery. Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) proposed that electricity flows through nerves. Galvani showed that stimulation of a frog's nerve causes contraction of the muscle to which it is attached (1791). The scientific community was excited by the potential use of this new force and research was conducted throughout Europe on the application of electricity to induce and sustain life. "
(http://www.clas.ufl.edu/ipsa/2003/ginn.html)
Galvanism was used in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to give life to the creature and is also the solid form of science built upon the science fiction within the story. It is only evident that Mary Shelley use this new found experiment, seeing as it was a popular topic back then and very relevant to her story.
In the 1800s, many inventions were created and science was taken to all new levels of achievement. Many experiments and inventions were made to exhibit science in its finest form. The voltaic cell was invented in 1800 by Alessandro Volta, the first steam powered pumping station in 1801, the dry cell battery by Johann Wilhelm Ritter, who also discovered ultraviolet radiation...etc. Just as all these scientists tried to perform the perfect experiment or create the perfect invention, Victor made his perfect experiment which was the monster. However, Victor was not proud of his creation after seeing its hideous appearance. All these scientists including Victor went through rejections from peers and isolation in order to accomplish their invention or experiment.
"Welcome to the 1800's! The Industrial Revolution has begun and the world is growing and changing every year. Europe carves up the globe into little pieces of economic pie, the United States cries “Westward Ho!” and Civil War breaks out between the North and the South. Human rights, the abolition movement, women's rights and child labor laws are all hot issues of the day. Europe and it’s children are bursting with vigor, ambition and industry while the rest of the world struggles to survive against them." (http://www.oakhillclothiers.com/Catalog/1800s/tabid/666/Default.aspx)
According to wikipedia "The year Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, the scientific inventions of industrial revolution was on its way to impact the world. However, Mary Shelley believed that the industrial revolution was taking over the world and it would only lead to harm." She thought the the revolution was becoming too powerful, and she thought science would be so ahead of its time that scientists would lose control. I believe this reflects in Frankenstein because victor tries to use science for issues far greater than any possible experiment. He tries to take human life into his own hands with the use of electricity and science. And it eventually becomes too much for him to handle. He eventually loses control of science, just as how Shelley thought society would lose control of science during the revolution.
