The Pros and Cons of Scientific Discovery in Frankenstein

Scientific discovery and creation, whilst being the product of an inventive mentality, ambition and a progressive pursuit of understanding, can lead us down a destructive and ultimately costly path. Through lines such as “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example” and “I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” are two examples which demonstrate that Frankenstein realises the monstrosity of his creation and that while chasing perfection, he had only moved further away from it. After the creation awakens, Frankenstein is so horrifies he retreats to his bedroom where he falls asleep only to have a nightmare. The nightmare is a premonition of Frankenstein’s bleak future brought upon him by none other than his creation as well as a symbolic event which shows even in sleep he cannot escape what he has unleashed upon the world. The monsters request for an identical partner is one which frightens Frankenstein as he has realised the negative implications the first monster has had on his own life. By tearing apart the second monster and subsequently sacrificing his family and himself, Frankenstein is determined to regress back to the point which he knew nothing of the secret of life “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”. The creation of the monster can also be seen as a point where a deterioration of Frankenstein’s physical and mental health becomes apparent. Frankenstein’s failing health is a symbolic cost which Frankenstein must bear; as well as this his family is either killed or die from something related to the monster and it is these “costs” which he must endure for attempting to play