Psychological anxieties in Mary Shelley’s “The Mortal Immortal”

Abstract EN

This paper examines Mary Shelley’s Gothic short story “A Mortal Immortal” (1833) in light of her psychological and mental grievances.

Shelley’s great remorse for losing family and friends deeply affected the writing of this story, and as a result the tale should be considered a reflection of her own sorrows.

The article focuses on how Shelley purposefully alternates between the two major characters Winzy and Bertha to portray herself.

An analysis of Winzy and Bertha and their depressions and unstable emotional experiences has been conducted in order to shed light on Shelley’s own reflections and emphasize the biographical and historical context in which the story was written.

Through Winzy, she demonstrates a doomed immortal being who loses loved ones and outlives them; thus endorsing the idea of the connection between prolonged life and curse.

In addition, through Bertha, Shelley draws on the resemblance between herself and a mortal woman who fails at her biological duty of mothering offspring.

Both characters are representative of Shelley’s unfortunate circumstances and symbolize the author’s internal struggles.

Although it was never documented anywhere in her biographies that Shelley attempted to commit suicide, however, the theme of self-destruction is strongly shown in her short story “The Mortal Immortal.” It is a story that shows suicidal urges instigated from internal conflicts that suffocate the characters.