The Last Man is a science fiction story of 1829, written by Mary Shelly. The main theme of a book is the future world that has been totally devastated by an epidemic.

1. THE LAST MAN
Background
The Last Man is a science fiction story of 1829, written by Mary Shelly. The main
theme of a book is the future world that has been totally devastated by an
epidemic. At the time, the Last Man was critically reviewed and remained
unknown virtually until 1960’s. It is outstanding at some parts for some romantic
figures semi-biographical portraits, mainly Lord Byron and Shelley’s husband
Percy Bysshe Shelley. At the first page of the introduction, Shelley stated that she
found some painted prophetic writing by Cumaean Sibyl, in the cave near Naples,
in 1818. Afterward, she edited those writings as a current narrative. She became
the first-person for narrating a man living story by the end of 21st century.
Plot:
Before getting isolated from the society due to gambling, Lionel’s father was a
good friend of King. Lionel’s father left a letter in the name of King (He left to
have his own life) saying to take care of his family after his demise. But the letter
never gets delivered to the king. Lionel and his sister grew up without parents and
remained uncivilized that increased the hatred of Lionel towards the king.
Meanwhile, Perdita (Lionel’s sister) enjoyed the isolation. When the monarchy
comes to an end after the death of the king, many attempt to make Adrian (King’s
son) king remains unsuccessful and Adrian also refuses to be king. Although,
Lionel bears a grievance against Adrian, Adrian’s good nature and explanation
about Lionel’s father’s letter recent delivery mollifies Lionel. They become a good
friend and under Adrian’s influence Lionel become philosophical and civilized.
From Cumberland, Lionel head back to England to see the trouble among his
acquaintances. Lord Raymond well known for his exploits during the war between
Turkey and Greece, also returns back to England in search of a political position.
Soon Evadne and Perdita fall in love with Raymond. Adrian gets mad and goes to
exile after finding out that his beloved Evadne has fell in love with Raymond. As a
first part of a conspiracy, Raymond intends to marry Idris (girl with whom
Raymond is in love). However, Raymond chooses Perdita over the ambition he had
and marries her. Adrian recovery under the care of Lionel but remains physically
weak. Idris after discovering the plot of the Countess flees with Lionel and marries
her.

2. Everyone lives a happy life until Raymond becomes a Lord Protectors. Perdita and
Raymond separate since Perdita finds the Raymond extramarital affair with
Evadne. Then Raymond leaves for the war in Greece after resigning for the
position. Shortly, rumors arise about the death of Raymond. So Perdita convinces
Lionel to bring him back to Greece.
Lionel brings Raymond back to Greece. Again both them go back to war. Lionel
finds Evadne is dying due to wounds in the war. But before dying she predicts the
death of Raymond which confirms the suspicion of Raymond as well. It causes
Raymond to get abandonment for the arm and dies in a fire.
In 2092, when Adrian and Lionel try returning to their normal lives, the epidemics
continue to spread across Americas and Europe. The recent Lord Protector Ryland
flees northward due to the plague but dies alone there. Summer after summer
plagues spreads. Ireland secures the survivors from America before capturing the
England.
Many survivors abandon England in search of favorable climate. Lionel receives a
letter from Lucy Martin who couldn’t join the exile due to his mother sickness.
Idris and Lionel decide to travel in order assist Lucy but Idris dies, weak from
years due to stress. Lionel recuperates Lucy and they reach Dover en Route to
France,
In France, Adrian discovers that a group of emigrants led by a false messiah claims
that all his followers will be saved from the epidemics. Adrian reunites most of all
faction, but this group causes a violent opposition to Adrian. In order to rescue
Juliet, Lionel goes to Paris. But she refuses to leave without her baby which is
taken away by an imposter. She helps Lionel to run away from there. When Juliet
discovers that imposters have been hiding the epidemics effect from the followers,
She gets killed and the imposter suicides. All the followers of imposter return back
to Versailles normally as exiles.
All the exiles travel to Switzerland, with a hope of spending summer in a colder
climate (less favorable for epidemics).However, most of them die except four
(Adrian, Evelyn, Clara, Lionel) before reaching Switzerland. Four of them spend a
happy life at Switzerland, Come and Milan but due to typhus, Evelyn dies. The
sudden storm kills Adrian and Clara while sailing across the Greece from the
Adriatic Sea. The Last Man, Lionel attempt to survive success. The story gets the
end in 2100.

3. Discussion:
In this story, Lionel seems to have presented as the main character since he
becomes the last one to survive at the end of the story. The Last Man is the one of
the most important novel of Shelly after Frankenstein. The novel offers a future
vision of romanticism and shows the failure of an art of imagination and rescue the
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