Interpreting The Creature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Frankenstein the Monster
In Frankenstein Mary Shelley shows how science gives man means to becoming a god and that disaster follows.
Victor Frankenstein uses science to cross the boundaries of nature without regard for possible repercussions. The genesis of the Creature and its basic aspects may be interpreted in different ways but above all the most important part remains the results. Mary Shelley illustrates the birth of the creature as a time with “anxiety that almost amounted to agony” (43), a time that started beautiful and ended with sheer terror and regret. Ashley Craig Lancaster writer for the The Midwest Quarterly explains how the genre British Gothicism challenges social structures and is “based on an ‘anti-realistic’ form” (From …show more content…
Science gives a power to man and awakes an unquenchable thirst for those who put their lips to the cup of knowledge. Hogsette expands on this idea, “Frankenstein explores the ideological vacuum engendered by scientific materialism and examines the spiritual bankruptcy of replacing them with secular humanism” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein). Hogsette goes on to further explain Shelley’s efforts to challenge common beliefs, “Mary Shelley adopts Gnostic creation mythology in order to revise the conservative Christian worldview and to express a humanistic self-liberation: ‘Man need no longer be in awe of his creator;” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein). Hogsette provides a rather interesting the point of view saying, “the novel portrays theistic worldviews as empty fantasies that are longer for yet repeatedly and ruthlessly debunked by a relentless materialistic reality” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein) the idea that science reigns supreme because it remains relevant for today. Shelley gives reason as to why man should be wary of both science and religion. Hogsette describes how Shelley does not take either side, religion or science, “Mary Shelley's novel clearly engages the question of origins from scientific and theistic perspectives, but it does not embrace secular humanism nor celebrate a subversion of theistic creation in
In Frankenstein Mary Shelley shows how science gives man means to becoming a god and that disaster follows.
Victor Frankenstein uses science to cross the boundaries of nature without regard for possible repercussions. The genesis of the Creature and its basic aspects may be interpreted in different ways but above all the most important part remains the results. Mary Shelley illustrates the birth of the creature as a time with “anxiety that almost amounted to agony” (43), a time that started beautiful and ended with sheer terror and regret. Ashley Craig Lancaster writer for the The Midwest Quarterly explains how the genre British Gothicism challenges social structures and is “based on an ‘anti-realistic’ form” (From …show more content…
Science gives a power to man and awakes an unquenchable thirst for those who put their lips to the cup of knowledge. Hogsette expands on this idea, “Frankenstein explores the ideological vacuum engendered by scientific materialism and examines the spiritual bankruptcy of replacing them with secular humanism” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein). Hogsette goes on to further explain Shelley’s efforts to challenge common beliefs, “Mary Shelley adopts Gnostic creation mythology in order to revise the conservative Christian worldview and to express a humanistic self-liberation: ‘Man need no longer be in awe of his creator;” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein). Hogsette provides a rather interesting the point of view saying, “the novel portrays theistic worldviews as empty fantasies that are longer for yet repeatedly and ruthlessly debunked by a relentless materialistic reality” (Metaphysical Intersections in Frankenstein) the idea that science reigns supreme because it remains relevant for today. Shelley gives reason as to why man should be wary of both science and religion. Hogsette describes how Shelley does not take either side, religion or science, “Mary Shelley's novel clearly engages the question of origins from scientific and theistic perspectives, but it does not embrace secular humanism nor celebrate a subversion of theistic creation in