The Last Man
What is The Last Man about?
The Last Man chronicles the last days of humanity in the 21st century as it is slowly obliterated by a global pandemic. Radical changes and events across Europe—the king abdicates, turning England into a Republic; war erupts between Greece and Turkey—weaken the fabric of society, allowing an unknown and deadly disease to quickly spread across the world. Political leaders are disorganized; spiritual figures offer little comfort; science yields no answers. Previously distinguished individuals abandon their people in their time of need out of cowardice, while others admirably rise up to the occasion. Yet, none of this matters at all when humanity comes to its end. Mary Shelley wrote this book during the darkest time of her life. Over the years, she had lost her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley; her close friend, Lord Byron; and her children. Writing the novel became an instrument to process her own hopelessness and isolation—various characters are impressions of her departed loved ones. Contemporary critics were not kind to The Last Man . While Frankenstein was lauded for its depiction of scientific presumption, humanity’s impotence and subsequent extinction were deemed offensive. The book faded into near-obscurity and merely survived until its rediscovery in the 1960s. After two World Wars, several epidemics, and the threat of nuclear annihilation, humanity’s end may not have seemed as absurd any more.
Main themes in The Last Man
Apocalypse and plague
Apocalypse and plague emerges as a defining element in The Last Man, shaping character development.
Grief and loss
The presence of grief and loss in The Last Man connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Civilization's fragility
In The Last Man, civilization's fragility provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Friendship and love
Friendship and love emerges as a defining element in The Last Man, shaping character development.
Why The Last Man is still relevant today
The Last Man is a pioneering post-apocalyptic novel, depicting the extinction of humanity by plague. Written after Percy Shelley's death, it reflects Mary's grief while imagining civilization's collapse. The novel influenced later apocalyptic fiction and deserves recognition alongside Frankenstein.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Last Man about?
Set in the late 21st century, the novel follows Lionel Verney through a plague that gradually kills all of humanity. He ends as the sole survivor, the "last man," wandering through the ruins of civilization.
Is The Last Man about Percy Shelley?
Characters are partly based on the Shelley circle: the idealistic Adrian echoes Percy Shelley, Lord Raymond echoes Byron. Mary wrote it shortly after Percy's death, and grief pervades the narrative.
Is The Last Man science fiction?
It's set in the future with some futuristic elements (hot air balloon travel, republican England) but focuses on human drama rather than technology. It pioneered the post-apocalyptic genre that later became central to science fiction.
How does The Last Man compare to Frankenstein?
The Last Man is longer, more overtly political, and less focused than Frankenstein. It lacks the earlier novel's iconic status but offers a broader canvas for Shelley's ideas about society, love, and mortality.