Knowledge Is Only Potential Power
Kate Hamilton
Teresa Cheatham
English 1
25 July 2012
“Knowledge is Only Potential Power” The day a child enters the world; they are ignorantly bliss from the world around them. But is ignorance bliss? Society is a harsh place, and none know this better than the creature in Frankenstein. The creature is given the ability to think at a far higher level than the general public, and yet the only thing he wants is to be loved. Victor Frankenstein abandons his creature, like when a parent abandons their child, because Victor is a reclusive person who cares more for knowledge than being loved. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, knowledge is what drives Victor and the creature’s existence, while their emotions and society corrupt them. Initially Mary Shelley alludes to the idea that ignorance is bliss when Victor says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Shelley 51). It’s not knowledge that is bad, it’s how a person obtains it. Knowledge is merely that, it’s not magic or corrosive or unhealthy. Knowledge and this pursuit of knowledge is what sets humans apart from animals. It could be said that the essence, or soul, of man is knowledge. The creature learns and gains knowledge, which means he has what it takes to be classified as human. Chanakya says, “Men have hunger, sleep, fear and carnal intercourse in common with the lower animals. It is only knowledge that a man has more than they. Those men who have not it may be regarded as beasts”. A monster is an ignorant beast filled with rage, while “creature” refers to being more human. The creature transforms from creature to monster to creature. In the end he does what’s right. Nothing about ignorance is bliss, if man remains ignorant he might as well be a monster. How can someone believe that ignorance
Teresa Cheatham
English 1
25 July 2012
“Knowledge is Only Potential Power” The day a child enters the world; they are ignorantly bliss from the world around them. But is ignorance bliss? Society is a harsh place, and none know this better than the creature in Frankenstein. The creature is given the ability to think at a far higher level than the general public, and yet the only thing he wants is to be loved. Victor Frankenstein abandons his creature, like when a parent abandons their child, because Victor is a reclusive person who cares more for knowledge than being loved. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, knowledge is what drives Victor and the creature’s existence, while their emotions and society corrupt them. Initially Mary Shelley alludes to the idea that ignorance is bliss when Victor says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Shelley 51). It’s not knowledge that is bad, it’s how a person obtains it. Knowledge is merely that, it’s not magic or corrosive or unhealthy. Knowledge and this pursuit of knowledge is what sets humans apart from animals. It could be said that the essence, or soul, of man is knowledge. The creature learns and gains knowledge, which means he has what it takes to be classified as human. Chanakya says, “Men have hunger, sleep, fear and carnal intercourse in common with the lower animals. It is only knowledge that a man has more than they. Those men who have not it may be regarded as beasts”. A monster is an ignorant beast filled with rage, while “creature” refers to being more human. The creature transforms from creature to monster to creature. In the end he does what’s right. Nothing about ignorance is bliss, if man remains ignorant he might as well be a monster. How can someone believe that ignorance
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