In my research, I have found three sources that relate to Frankenstein and political criticism, particularly with regards to the French aristocracy and the French Revolution.
My first source is Frankenstein’s Monster: The Modern Leviathan which examines Shelley’s novel through the lens of Hobbesian contract theory, which looks at the foundation of society and humanity’s push away from nature. In relation to the French Revolution, this theory provides a justification for the revolutionaries in their tyranny against a government of tyrants. Moreover, Frankenstein is viewed as a reflection of that struggle between the aristocracy and the peasants. If I were to do my project on political criticism and Frankenstein, I believe there are many examples I can pull from this work to support Frankenstein’s political and historical connection to the Revolution.
My second source is Frankenstein’s Hidden Skeleton: The Psycho-Politcs of Oppression. This source looks specifically at Frankenstein and his role in the novel as a member of the aristocracy and brings up the prevalence of incest in the novel and how the scientist had to create life in order prevent said incest. As a biology major as well, I could elaborate more on the biological and medical history surrounding incest amongst the aristocracy and how it put limits on and brought about threats to their power over the poor. I would use this source more to qualify the notion that Frankenstein is representative of aristocracy in the novel.
My third source is The Frankensetin of the French Revolution: Nogaret’s automaton tale of 1790. This source talks of a French novel that echoes the story of Frankenstein but has stronger connection to the French revolution. Through this connection, Frankenstein can be more strongly connected to the French Revolution. Similar to my second source, this source contains material that can better qualify the monster as a representative of the French poor, given the time that the monster spent with the De Laceys.
I think that you have three interesting sources, which all differ slighty in focus. This could make for three different, although still interesting essays. While your second source, Frankenstein’s Hidden Skeleton: The Psycho-Politcs of Oppression, talks about an aspect of the book I had not thought about, especially in terms of the effects incest throughout the aristocracy would have over their power on the poor, your first source is also interesting. The other intersting thing about the second source is the connection you could make to the medical biology aspect and how that connects with the political aspects. However, I also think that your first source, Frankenstein’s Monster: The Modern Leviathan, would allow you to expand upon and write thoroughly on, the notion of society pulling away from nature. Either way you have three sources which would each be used to write an interesting paper.