The Relationship between Natural Settings and Mood Changes in Frankenstein in the Ecological Perspective

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to see the relationship between moods and natural settings that appeared in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, focusing on three characters: Frankenstein, the creature, and Felix. It is commonly found in the novel that the pleasant weather such as sunshines or gentle breeze turned the depressed moods of the characters to pleasant, lively emotions. Not only the nice weather, but also the beauty of nature played significant roles in shifting their feelings. These mood changes by the natural environments seem to be based on the author’s self-experiences of famine and starvation back then under the dramatic weather change after volcanic eruption that happened in Indonesia. Besides, the shift of emotion to the weather has its scientific and ecological ground. According to the research on the weather and physiological responses, serotonin secretion in the Neuro transmitters increases or decreases depending on the degree of exposure to the sunlight. Those living in the southern part of Europe are exposed to more sunlight than those in the northern part of Europe and therefore, they are likely to be more optimistic than those in the Nordic area who have relatively less sunny days. Throughout the text, nature plays significant roles affecting characters feelings. Interestingly, however, the novel shows little relationship between sound and mood: listening to a bird s song did not affect the character s mood. Interestingly, however, the novel shows little correlation between sound and mood: listening to a bird s song did not affect the character s mood.