Scarlet Fever's Correlation in Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was published in England in the year 1818, a time period where the country was plagued by sickness. The most notable form of sickness occurred from scarlet fever, a devastating disease that rampaged in the United Kingdom throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Scarlet fever was so devastating that it appeared in literature at the time, including Frankenstein. This disease played a substantial role in the book, as it was the cause of Elizabeth's and Caroline's sicknesses, ultimately leading to the death of Caroline. Scarlet fever serves as a catalyst to the extreme and downward spiral of Victor Frankenstein's actions throughout the books, leading many scholars and researchers to identify the specificity of the disease's larger impact on society in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Scarlet Fever in 18th and 19th Century UK
Scarlet fever, like many illnesses at the time, had little countermeasures throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, significantly impacting the fever's death rate. Many deaths were also contributed to scarlet fever because it was a streptococcal disease, being "the only one that was reliably identified in the 19th century" (Duncan et al. 495) Since there were not as many different diseases known during this time period, many illnesses were counted as scarlet fever fatalities, even if they were not directly caused by scarlet fever. Scarlet fever was consistently attributed with red rashes or bumps on the skin, elevated temperature, ulcers, sore throats, and nausea. These symptoms were difficult to treat at the time, with common forms of treatment consisting of bed-rest, a liquid-based diet, and minor medications. Some specific medication at the time consisted of "Epsom Salts, nitre, ammonia, carbonate and nitrate silver" ("Scarlet Fever: Scourge of the 19th Century") but these treatments rarely provided recovery.
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Artistic representation of a child with
scarlet fever in the 19th century
("Scarlet Fever: Scourge of the 19th Century"). |
In addition to the poor treatment and medical knowledge in the 18th and 19th centuries, proper preventative measures were not known either. Scarlet fever tended to rapidly spread in urbanized areas and cities, with "near-simultaneous eruption of scarlet fever epidemics in port cities in Scandinavia, the US, and Britain" occurring in the 1830s (Davenport 479). The frequent international travel that occurred in port cities allowed scarlet fever to spread rapidly in urban areas, as these locations were more condensed in population. With more populated areas resulting in "raising average level of exposure to the disease and lowering the average age at infection" (Davenport 462) causing a sharp increase in mortality alongside urbanization throughout England in the early-mid 19th century. This increased level of urbanization combined with a lack of public health knowledge on effective treatment resulted in substantial increases in deaths by scarlet fever, particularly among children.
The Impact and Effectiveness of Hospitals
Access to healthcare in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century was not always viable, with many hospitals and clinics being unable to provide effective treatment for sickly individuals. These crowded medical clinics suffered as a result of rapid industrialization, with many being forced to lower standards in quality. Despite this, these hospitals were "a refuge of last resort for paupers" (Black 1394) as many poorer families could not afford privatized care. Unfortunately, the lack of medical knowledge combined with the degradation of cleanliness led these places of care to become tombs for the ill.
Scarlet Fever in the Modern World
Fortunately, medical knowledge and expertise on scarlet fever has substantially improved since Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in the 19th century. Scarlet fever originates from the Group A Streptococcus, a very contagious bacteria that spreads through skin contact and respiratory droplets (CDC). Scarlet fever thrives in crowded areas and is more lethal to children, which is why there was a drastic increase in mortality during the 18th/19th centuries. With modern medicine, the worse of the illness can be treated with antibiotics and preventative measures, such as cleanliness, quicker treatment, and more effective identification/testing for the illness (CDC). The fatality rate for scarlet fever is substantially lower than it was during Mary Shelley's life, but that does not mitigate the devastating impact the fever had on Europe throughout history.
Works Cited
Black, Nick. “Rise and demise of the hospital: a reappraisal of nursing.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) vol. 331,7529 (2005): 1394-6. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7529.1394
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "About Scarlet Fever." CDC, Dec. 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/about/scarlet-fever.html
Davenport, Romola J. “Urbanization and mortality in Britain, c. 1800-50.” The Economic history review vol. 73,2 (2020): 455-485. doi:10.1111/ehr.12964
Duncan, C J et al. “The dynamics of scarlet fever epidemics in England and Wales in the 19th century.” Epidemiology and infection vol. 117,3 (1996): 493-9. doi:10.1017/s0950268800059161
"Scarlet Fever: Scourge of the 19th Century." Castle Bromwich Graveyard, 6 Dec. 2019, https://castlebromwichgraveyard.co.uk/scarlet-fever-scourge-of-the-19th-century/
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