Analysis of Frankenstein under philosophical light
Analysis of Frankenstein under philosophical light
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, also known as Modern Prometheus, reflects upon major pitfalls of the modern philosophy as Victor Frankenstein attempts to prevail over God with the power of science. Through depicting Victor Frankenstein’s tragic fall sparked by his incessant yearning for higher knowledge, Mary Shelly warns modern readers on potential dangers behind mankind’s aspiration for excessive knowledge and its desire to overpower the immutable orders in life. Moreover, Shelly’s clever usage of “Fire and Ice” as a symbolism to represent enlightenment and rationality deserves a particular attention in understanding the tension between modern and ancient philosophy.
Towards the beginning of the movie, Victor Frankenstein successfully leads a prosperous and stable life in company of his loving family members. Moreover, unexpected arrival of his unrelated sister Elizabeth Lavenza even introduces romance and passion into Victor’s early period. Beginning is simply inundated with joy that it is impossible to foresee the imminent blood-soaked catastrophe. However, the origin for Victor’s narcissistic obsession with forbidden knowledge is instigated as he witnesses death of his mother along with incompetency of his father to rescue her as a doctor. Loss of his beloved mother inflicts grave damage to Victor’s soul and prompts his neurotic journey to conquer death via his ambition to construct eternal lives. It is critical to note that the emergence of modern philosophy was accompanied by the scientific revolution, marked by great thinkers including Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes and Immanuel Kant, whom introduced the power of inductive reasoning and knowledge over the ancient orders. Victor Frankenstein participates in this popular scheme of his time, first observed through his escalated disputation with his professor at medical school over his radical postulations. Though the modern philosophy acclaims
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, also known as Modern Prometheus, reflects upon major pitfalls of the modern philosophy as Victor Frankenstein attempts to prevail over God with the power of science. Through depicting Victor Frankenstein’s tragic fall sparked by his incessant yearning for higher knowledge, Mary Shelly warns modern readers on potential dangers behind mankind’s aspiration for excessive knowledge and its desire to overpower the immutable orders in life. Moreover, Shelly’s clever usage of “Fire and Ice” as a symbolism to represent enlightenment and rationality deserves a particular attention in understanding the tension between modern and ancient philosophy.
Towards the beginning of the movie, Victor Frankenstein successfully leads a prosperous and stable life in company of his loving family members. Moreover, unexpected arrival of his unrelated sister Elizabeth Lavenza even introduces romance and passion into Victor’s early period. Beginning is simply inundated with joy that it is impossible to foresee the imminent blood-soaked catastrophe. However, the origin for Victor’s narcissistic obsession with forbidden knowledge is instigated as he witnesses death of his mother along with incompetency of his father to rescue her as a doctor. Loss of his beloved mother inflicts grave damage to Victor’s soul and prompts his neurotic journey to conquer death via his ambition to construct eternal lives. It is critical to note that the emergence of modern philosophy was accompanied by the scientific revolution, marked by great thinkers including Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes and Immanuel Kant, whom introduced the power of inductive reasoning and knowledge over the ancient orders. Victor Frankenstein participates in this popular scheme of his time, first observed through his escalated disputation with his professor at medical school over his radical postulations. Though the modern philosophy acclaims