Week seventeen of Lite Reads comes to a close, as we finish with our short story selection The Invisible Girl by Mary Shelley. Throughout the week there have been questions as food for thought on social media as people had the chance to read it and think about it. Before I announce the next Lite Reads selection (December 9), I will be sharing my own thoughts here. There will be spoilers for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to finish the story.
Mary Shelley wrote many Gothic short stories in her lifetime, and The Invisible Girl is one of the better-known ones of those short stories. This narrative uses many of the tropes that fit within Gothic literature to tell the story of a young couple separated by distance and cruelty, only to eventually be reunited.
Many of the elements here fit perfectly within the category of Gothic literature. The tower setting has an eerie feel to its description that fits well within the notion of what a Gothic setting should be. The dramatic interactions between the characters, both between enemies and between lovers, fit with the mood that one expects in a Gothic story. Although the character of the “invisible girl” ends up not truly being a ghost, simply the woman and love interest Rosina as she hides in the shadows in a remote area, it is hinted before we realise that Rosina is that girl that the invisible girl could very well be a ghostly figure of some kind. I personally found the boat scene to be filled with delightful Gothic melodrama as Shelley describes the turbulence of the water, and even as she describes the water as it calms.
Shelley’s body of work is often seen as largely influential on all of the genre fiction that has come about in the two centuries since her lifetime. Although Frankenstein is obviously her most influential work, you can still see from some of her short stories how different genres might have been influenced. Although this tale is Gothic, and never approaches the realm of horror, it is easy to see how the language she uses here to build tension and mood might have influenced the horror genre, especially in its early days. The love story here may be an early example of romance, but it definitely is a romance with many elements that might have been seen in later romance stories. Stories of love transcending class are still popular today, and I think parents disapproving of a couple is a trend that is present in nearly every genre.
The aspects of abuse inflicted upon Rosina by the much wealthier and higher positioned family that has taken her in feels true to what would have been expected at the time. The story never becomes graphic, more alluding to this abuse, but it is still present and makes sense. The notion of inter-class marriages at the time and place were scandalous, especially when it came to the nobility (even lower ranking nobility such as a baronet). This type of relationship being depicted as being loving and true despite being written in the 1830s is a statement, and a refreshing one at that. I think this type of story lends credence to modern historical romance stories that deal more heavily with class issues.
The Invisible Girl is the oldest story that we’ve read as part of Lite Reads, and even though there is a lot to like about it, it is a great example of why 19th-century literature is only sparingly introduced here. The language can be inaccessible to those whose English literacy skills aren’t quite as strong, and the style can be more laborious to read than more modern styles (particularly considering how wordy it can be). Obviously, there is a great deal of merit in reading older fiction, but it is easy to see why it puts off some readers, or why others might struggle more with it.
Overall, I think The Invisible Girl by Mary Shelley makes for a solid read. As far as 19th-century Gothic romance stories go, it is about what you would expect, but with added political connotations regarding class that improve it overall. I can see why it would be something that not all modern readers would enjoy, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but it is worth a read for those looking to explore the early decades of Gothic literature or for those looking to explore the history of women writers.
I hope everyone who participated by reading the story and following along on social media enjoyed the story. If you have more thoughts to add, please feel free to comment on this post, or anywhere on The Feminist Bibliothecary’s social media. Week eighteen begins tomorrow, December 9, with a brand new short story selection!
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