Mary Shelley's life is full of ups and downs. Around this time, Shelley wrote the novel Frankenstein. Although Frankenstein is a fictional novel, it is similar to the real life Mary Shelley. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born to parents Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin on August 30, 1797 in London, England. After Marie's birth, her mother died ten days later (“Marie” 2). Four years later, William Godwin remarried. Mary Shelley had no formal education but was surrounded by an intellectual atmosphere by her father and friends. She read a wide variety of books, most from her mother's collection ("Mary" 2). Mary's favorite retreat was her mother's grave. She went there to read and write (“Mary” 2). Mary met Percy Shelley when she was fourteen. Two years later, they saw each other again and realized their attraction (“Mary” 2). By this time, Percy was married and had two children. Like Mary's parents, they believed in love rather than legal marriage ("Mary" 2). In July 1814, Mary and Percy eloped before her seventeenth birthday. The next few years Mary and Percy spent traveling in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy (“Mary” 2). After Percy left his family, Percy's father cut off his allowance. Mary and Percy's lives were then filled with financial difficulties and personal tragedies ("Mary" 2). As recorded by Eleanor, the couple had children, their first child William died as a baby, as did the other Clara and Everina. After William died, Mary had a dream. March 19, 1815; Mary's dream was recorded in her journal: “Dream that my little baby came to life – that it had only been cold and we rubbed him in front of the fire and he lived” [SIC]. Anxieties related to motherhood and the inability to give birth led her to write...... middle of paper...... dates and names. The novel Frankenstein was born from doubled fear (np). Fear that women won't be able to have normal, healthy children and fear that an author won't be able to write. Margaret Walton Saville from the novel has the same initials as Mary Shelley (np). The day Walton saw the creature, July 31, 1797, was the year Mary was born. Frankenstein ends on September 12, 1797, two days after the death of Mary's mother (np). These are the parallels between Mary Shelley and the novel FrankensteinWorks cited by Eleanor, Ty. “Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.” Wilfrid Laurier University.February 1, 2010.Gerson, Noel B. Daughter of Earth and Water. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1973. “Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.” UXL Biographies. UXL, 1999. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale