Title: Valerius, The Reanimated Roman
Author: Mary Shelley
Date of First Publication: 1819, unpublished until Charles Robinson’s collection below
Place of Publication: Collected Tales and Stories (1976)
Type: Short Story
Characters: No Character
Themes: POSTHUMAN; RACE/POLITICS
Critical Summary: In this work, a Roman soldier named Valerius, who once lived in the thriving Roman Empire during the time of Cicero and Cato, is reanimated from death centuries later. Valerius reflects on his previous lifetime, where he lived in the Forum and Senate house, and how he died defending the honor of his country. Now he discovers that the Roman empire has fallen into ruins and civilization has moved on, which leaves him feeling alienated. The first half of the story consists of Valerius telling his companion about his sorrow for the collapse of Rome, and how every temple, hill, and structure appear to him as ruins. Valerius is so overwhelmed with grief that he exiles himself from society. He is unable to relate to this new society, these new inhabitants of his beloved land have lost all characteristics of the Romans. However, his perspective changes when he meets the love of his life, Isabell. Isabell is married to an old priest, but she offers her hand and home to Valerius. She takes him to some of the rebuilt sites of Rome, such as The Pantheon, in hopes of changing his negative perspective of modern society. Her attempt ultimately fails; even the renovations cannot capture the true beauty of Rome, and he is only reminded of the destruction of his home. After meeting Isabell, Valerius decides to leave Rome and discover how humanity has progressed before he dies again.
Mary Shelley uses similar characteristics of the Creature from Frankenstein in Valerius to incite feelings of the Sympathetic Monster. The reanimated Roman feels total isolation in this new society, just as Frankenstein’s Creature experienced. It is certainly clear that both characters share the similarity of being the outsiders of society. There is also a reflection of Elizabeth through the character Isabell. Isabell is a sweet, educated woman who simply wants to help Valerius. She not only is willing to console him about his past, but is patient when trying to raise his spirits by visiting familiar Roman structures. The couple seem to balance each other in the same way Victor and Elizabeth did; the man is stuck in his ways, and the woman is patient, supportive and knowledgeable. This story also illustrates clear themes of the Posthuman/Last Man. Valerius is without a doubt the last man among all people who would have existed during his time, and he is a Posthuman by way of his reanimation centuries after his death. In addition, the theme of Race/Politics becomes apparent through the discussion of political power during the Roman empire, and the subsequent strains of tyranny that have permeated society thereafter.
Administrative Notes: Leslie Morgan, CSUF; Adam Shelley, CSUF (editing)