Over the past few centuries, the intellectuals of society have made countless advances in science and the development of technology, which, to different degrees, have all benefitted mankind. These scientific discoveries are a result of man’s thirst for and dedication to acquiring knowledge, information, and power. The innate curiosity and desire for understanding in an individual can grow so immense that his or her moral and ethical boundaries erode, which results in disastrous consequences for all who are involved. The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is both a warning and a plea about the dangers of misusing academic prowess and the consequences that result because of the reckless pursuit of scientific progress. Victor Frankenstein is a scientist that, after becoming obsessed with discovering the secret to life, abandons his moral code and tries to play God by attempting to create life where there is none. The potential rewards of this endeavor cause Victor to forgo all prudence when considering the consequences of his actions, which allows the experiment to progress till completion. The novel can be read as a criticism of the perusal of enlightenment science and philosophy. Victor’s failure of allowing his ambitions to blind him is highlighted by the mistakes of the monster.…
As ironic as it seems, and for the many differences shown between Victor and the Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are also various similarities between these two characters. The way they want to learn, they way they used to love but now hate the world, and the great sense of remorse they feel at the end. Both, Victor and the Monster, had a great desire for learning. For Victor it was more about studying and becoming fully educated in the sciences. As for the monster however: he was more interested in learning about human life, “but how was this possible when [the monster] did not even understand the sounds for which they stood as signs?” (p. 98) He learned to speak from listening and learning from humans talk. For Victor “natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry… became nearly his sole occupation.” They are both extremely fast learners and were able to learn the things they studied very quickly.…
In the short story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara there is various examples of the functions of literature. It interprets the human condition by showing us the necessity of money. Money is always an important essential in life. Also, it instructs the human behavior by demonstrating of the importance of education. Ms. Monroe takes her time to educate these rude children, because she thinks it’s her duty. It also gives pleasure by giving me a sense of hope for the children.…
In the beginning we find Victor growing up in a wealthy family, where he is encouraged to seek a greater understanding of the world around him through science. He is surrounded by loving family and friends and appears to grow up a normal boy with the exception of his obsession of studying outdated theories of science that focused on the natural wonders. Inspired by his youthful obsession, Victor leaves for the University of Ingolstadt to pursue his passions; however, tragedy strikes a few days before with the passing of his mother from scarlet fever. We can only imagine the distraught Frankenstein traveling to school with the sadness that must have plagued him during this time, and how when he arrived may have unconsciously lead him down the road to the construction of the creature.…
* Throughout Frankenstein, the reader is left with the feeling that Victor's obsessive desire to defeat nature, through the creation of another life, directly led to the many tragedies that befell him, "Learn from me, if not by my precept, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier…
Victor Frankenstein is the main character in the novel Frankenstein. He was a young boy who grew up in Geneva. He loved to read books of ancient scientists while he was at the university of Ingolstadt. There only a few years, he learned about science and he became very smart. He wanted to know all there was to know, but through the course of the novel Victor makes 3 mistakes that eventually lead to his death.…
In the novel Frankenstein, both Victor and his creation shared various similarities between each other. One of the most notable similarities between the two characters involves their robust desire to acquire knowledge. During the novel Victor goes off to the University of Ingolstadt where he excels as a star pupil in his chemistry and natural philosophy classes.…
The “monster”, his creation, set his sights out on figuring out why his creator decided to abandon him. This again ties in the theme of acquiring knowledge. He began studying the actions and language outside a cottage of a nearby family, which enabled him to understand why humans shrieked at his appearance and ultimately why his creator disowned him,”accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?” (Shelley 119). With his understanding, the “monster” became enraged “I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge” (Shelley 120) In that moment the “monster” decided that he was going to take his anger out on his creator. Traveling near and far, the monster set out on a killing spree, which included the family members of Victor, his…
To conclude the theme the novel expresses about the danger and misuse of knowledge corrolates perfectly through the course of events in the novel. Dr.Frankenstein knew not of what wrath his abundance in knowledge would unleash upon gving life to what was meant to be dead. It was too the monster's knowledge of true feelings that caused danger to Dr.Frankenstein. I believe that one's knowledge is a powerful tool, but should be used to the beholder's…
The speech, effect on others, and thoughts of Frankenstein and his creation are powerful tools in their characterisations, and allow the reader to sustain their sympathies for the two. Throughout the novel, we are introduced to the idea that there is a distinction between “Victor” and “Frankenstein,” Victor being the ‘good’ side of him. This is done through the contrast in Frankenstein at the beginning of the novel and after he has reanimated his creation. An example of this is when Victor leaves for university and Frankenstein returns home.…
Like Frankenstein, the Monster’s quests for knowledge only enhances his misfortunate life. This further allows readers to dissect the consequences associated with knowledge and the Monster’s responsibility in his fate and therefore parallels Victor’s and the Monster’s relationship with their misfortune. Knowledge, in the case of the Monster, ruins his naive understanding of his world. After the Monster sees the love Felix has for Safie he laments, “"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has once seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.” (85). Until this scene, the Monster understands he does not live in the best scenario, although is unaware of how poor his conditions truly are. Furthermore the Monster’s comparison of himself to a rock acts as an ironically fitting portrayal- an inanimate object. The comparison between the Monster and Victor continues to remind readers that the Monster was not gifted with emotion, nor is the Monster technically human. The Monster in this scenario much rather not know what he…
Frankenstein is an emotionally driven recounting of how Victor Frankenstein rises to the challenge of proving himself while receiving an education, even going so far say he had “made some discoveries in the improvement of some chemical instruments which procured me great esteem and admiration at the university” (Shelley, p. 49) to eventually creating a monster, through which he hoped to make his mark on this world. Victor’s desire to create the monster was driven by his obsessive and unflinching drive to prove his worth in the realm of natural sciences.…
The purpose of authors writing literary works is to teach specific values and themes that they deem essential to put across to their readers. Francine Prose, the author of the excerpt I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read, is just by being skeptical of using literary works to teach values because of the way many English classes target the values of the author rather than the literary work itself. By using the two examples of the novels Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Prose expands her argument by proving to the reader that many English teachers focus on the background of the author and his or her values while losing some of the ability to show the true meaning of the works.…
The desire for knowledge is something many possess, but when taken too far knowledge can have very devastating effects - not only for that person but the lives of others. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Shelley demonstrates breakdowns and misfortunes that curse those who obsessively pursue knowledge. Victor Frankenstein lusts for a kind of knowledge so hidden and unrevieled that he is willing to sacrifice himself and the lives of others in its pursuit. Frankenstein longs for scientific knowledge to pursue his goal of creating human life. He succeeds at this, but the experiment results in creating a monstrous creature. Frankenstein had the urge to study the negative subjects throughout science that he was so intertwined with, and had the determination…
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein explores the concepts of knowledge and science and the dangers involved with the pursuit and investigation of these ideas. The novel conveys Shelley’s attitudes towards science by portraying it as having the capability to exceed the bounds of human restraint. Through the development of her protagonist Victor Frankenstein, the romantic and gothic aspects of her novel, the period of 1818 and the influences of the world she was living in that are evident in the novel and the exploration of the human need for love and relationships.…