Knowledge Is Power In Frankenstein Essay
Some claim knowledge is power, but is it ethical to use that knowledge and tamper with nature? It has often been said that “progress is born from doubt and inquiry”, however, when the inquirer takes this knowledge and uses it to play God, can his actions be justified? That is the dilemma in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, where protagonist Victor Frankenstein attempts to artificially create life, only for it to end in death and tragedy. The novel blatantly displays how taking things too far and meddling with matters that are beyond human capacity is something that should never be done. The literary criticism entitled Promethean Ambitions Alchemy and the Quest to Perfect Nature; William R. Newman gives us some insight on the whole
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The author gives the example of a lab generated mouse. Even if the synthetic mouse were programmed to look and behave exactly like a real mouse, it would still not be a genuine mouse at the end of the day. I also agree with this statement because life forms created artificially in labs could hardly be justified as “real”. I would question whether the synthetic being is really like its authentic counterpart; it would always remain in my head that this existence was artificially created. Additionally, I know that souls cannot be handcrafted by humans, meaning it must be “empty” inside. Frankenstein’s creature even recognizes itself to be much different from humans and does not consider itself to be human at all like it was intended to be. “Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred.” (Chapter 15) The creature curses its existence and perceives himself as a monster. The creature comments how God created humans in his image; however, Frankenstein’s creation does not even remotely resemble that of God’s. Frankenstein succeeded in making a
The author gives the example of a lab generated mouse. Even if the synthetic mouse were programmed to look and behave exactly like a real mouse, it would still not be a genuine mouse at the end of the day. I also agree with this statement because life forms created artificially in labs could hardly be justified as “real”. I would question whether the synthetic being is really like its authentic counterpart; it would always remain in my head that this existence was artificially created. Additionally, I know that souls cannot be handcrafted by humans, meaning it must be “empty” inside. Frankenstein’s creature even recognizes itself to be much different from humans and does not consider itself to be human at all like it was intended to be. “Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred.” (Chapter 15) The creature curses its existence and perceives himself as a monster. The creature comments how God created humans in his image; however, Frankenstein’s creation does not even remotely resemble that of God’s. Frankenstein succeeded in making a