Composed during the Industrial Revolution at a time of increased scientific experimentation, Shelley warns and forebodes her enlightened society of the consequences which come about from playing god. She uses Victor Frankenstein as her platform, whose self-exalting line “many excellent natures would owe their being to me” represents a society engrossed with reanimation. Recurring mythical allusions to Prometheus, “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge” portray Victor as a tragic hero; a noble character whose “fatal flaw” of blind ambition ultimately results in his own downfall and dehumanization, “swallowed up every habit of my nature”. In addition, Victor’s impulsive rejection of his grotesque creation, leads to the Monster’s rebellion (“vowed eternal hated and vengeance to all mankind”).…
Written during the Industrial Revolution and in the Age of Enlightenment- Shelley’s Frankenstein can be interpreted as a warning to the technological curious. This curious nature leads Shelley to…
In “Frankenstein” a gothic novel by Mary Shelley there is much suffering and affliction, some attribute this to victors search for glory, however it is by his ravenous search for knowledge that he meets his tragic fate. This novel often presents knowledge as destructive, and dangerous, but this does not only apply to Victor, all who wish to expand their knowledge find destruction eventually in this novel.…
But, it is these processes that clearly show flaws in their own philosophy. As an Enlightenment Era scientist, Victor has all of nature at his disposal, to experiment and conduct tests on however he likes. His deeds show this; the torture of animals in order to discover the “inner workings of the natural world”, without remorse he digs up countless corpses in the night in search of ‘perfect’ body parts to put together and form his creature. The problems in this approach to science are evident in the cruelty and horrific acts that its moral code condones. These acts have been committed without emotional or human attachment, values that are fundamental in Romantic ideals. In describing these events and directly attributing them to Enlightenment ways, Shelly describes the realisation society is coming to that its values must change. In staying true to the scientific values of the time, Frankenstein exposes their flaws and as a result unwittingly challenges…
Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, explores the complex nature of mankind by considering the consequences of an unrestricted pursuit of science. A rise in scientific experimentation with Galvanism during Shelley’s time is reflected through the protagonist Victor as he uses it to bestow life. Shelley portrays Victor and the Creature as complex beings, demonstrating both inhuman and human qualities. Despite this, the subsequent rejection by his creator and the De Lacy family drives the Creature to ‘eternal rejection and vengeance of mankind’. Victor’s initial response when meeting the creature, demonstrates his savage, cruel treatment and lack of responsibility towards his creation.…
Cultural, religious and scientific influences are deeply intertwined in Frankenstein. The novel’s cultural aspect is introduced at the beginning of the novel when Victor’s drive for knowledge is introduced, which leads to the introduction of the science aspect, in which Victor animates lifeless matter. The birth of his monster establishes the religious aspect the nature of evil becomes questionable. In this essay, Shelley’s manipulation of the religion, scientific, and cultural aspects of the novel will be analyzed. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Shelley manipulates…
| This is a cautionary tale warning about the threat to a diminished humanity posed by Science. Both Walton, the narrator and Frankenstein are challenging the frontiers of human knowledge and will suffer for it. Shelley parallels Walton's spatial explorations and Frankenstein's forays into unknown knowledge, as both men seek to “pioneer a new way,” to make progress beyond established limits. Science and too much rational learning can diminish our humanity. We should value our natural sensual humanity and reject the scientific notion that rational thought will lead us to a more humane society. If not, our humanity will become diminished.In both texts, humans lose control over their man made creations.…
This change in humanity is something Shelley questions extensively throughout her novel with Victor’s parallellism with society in the way he goes about his science ‘I was left with a Childs blindness added to a student’s thirst for knowledge’ this thirst for knowledge in victor was not accompanied by thought for the future it was the ‘childs blindness’ to go with his ‘ardent curiosity’ that created a ‘monster’. Frankenstein’s arrogance and ignorance is making a statement about humanity’s lust to be enlightened with ‘both eyes open, only to be blinded in one eye’ with the morals and ethics of our society lacking the support and discussion needed. tragic circumstance’s within Frankenstein are made to show what should have happened in the circumstances, which involves thinking of morals and…
Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ explores a deeper understanding of disruption through questioning the morality and consequences of creating human life. Written in 1818, Shelley both reflects and foresees the dangers scientific exploration could bring if it advanced too far. This period of scientific advancement (seen through Darwin and Galvini) is mimicked through her…
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, she attempts to bring to light the dangers and the amount of responsibility a then new-found age of scientific exploration and discovery could bring to the table. When Technology and Power are used for self-beneficiary reasons, the process in which man tries to move forward with their pursuit of knowledge becomes complex, ending in the corruption of the self. In his attempt to make life, Victor unleashes a ‘Monster’ unto the world, oblivious to the responsibility it comes with. Being ignorant to this, and believing it to be a mere monster, he rejects any responsibility, sealing their fate in death.…
Everyone goes through life with the hopes of acquiring new knowledge and being smarter today than they were yesterday; it is part of human nature to want to become better as a person. This was the case in the novel of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The characters within this novel each have different situations to which their quest for knowledge leads them to different points in their life. With knowledge comes power and with power comes consequences, these characters each have to deal with the consequences of their actions, which in some cases are good and some are not so good. Pride becomes an ultimate factor for one of these characters and is the make or break point of their decision making.…
Knowledge has the ability to promote the evolution of society, but if it prevails in uncovering the irreparable despair of one’s existence, or devours the entirety of ones purpose and ambition, it becomes the fruit of the poison tree. In Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s prolific novel Frankenstein, both Victor Frankenstein and his creature suffer severely from the knowledge plaguing them. Victor possessively seeks the knowledge necessary to bring his creature to life, blocking out all consciousness of negative implications, all the while his creature anguishes over the knowledge of his monstrosity of a reality. Knowledge in their case, is poison, disallowing them to live life freely, and revealing the potential danger when pursuit or discovery of it is all encompassing and corrupting.…
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Doctor Frankenstein continues to use and implement his knowledge, which seems to go against nature and is called ‘dangerous’. This knowledge, when used to create his hideous monster, deeply affects his mental and physical state of mind. Shelley showcases this in chapter four of Frankenstein. In the novel, Frankenstein acquires knowledge, then causes detrimental harm to his mental and physical health.…
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is arguably one of the most controversial novels of the 19th Century. It discusses the concept of science verses human conscience in a technological world. The Gothic atmosphere of the novel reflects the dark feelings of society at the time, and Shelley utilised pathetic fallacy, her chosen form and imagery to suggest a twist on the real monster of her story. Shelley uses poetical language and perspective to emphasise how the monster is a model Romaticist, and to express the importance of belonging and communication to a judgemental society. Symbols, contrasts and ‘heavenly’ adjectives are used to portray Victor Frankenstein as a God-like figure; expressing how we must never interfere with nature’s course and take on God’s role to the knowledge-greedy culture of the 1800’s, which was consumed with the Industrial Revolution. Shelley has manipulated her writing to convey her personal ideologies, and to reflect her concern for a loss of ethics in a society fixated on the pursuit for answers.…
one of our first and still is one of our best cautionary tales about scientific…