necessary. Francis Bacon seemed to recognize this when he stated‚ “Knowledge is power‚” as did Spider Man creator Stan Lee‚ at arguably the other end of the literary spectrum‚ when Peter Parker’s uncle reminded the accidental superhero that “[w]ith great power comes great responsibility.” These axioms merge in Immanuel Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?” and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to caution their readers about the care with which knowledge should be exercised; however‚ the overriding theme of each work
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fiction‚ Frankenstein. This literary work‚ published in 1818‚ tells the story of a young scientist who comes upon the secrets to create life. The novel begins with the correspondence of letters between Captain Robert Walton‚ a young English explorer in pursuit of discovering the Northwest Passage‚ to his sister Margaret Saville. The first few letters in the novel recount to Margaret the progress of Walton’s voyage. Upon reaching a plot of impassable ice‚ Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein upon a
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“How the 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.” To what extent does Shelley’s Frankenstein support Victor Frankenstein’s view? 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
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Inability to control/Knowledge: The aspect of man’s inability to control his creation is influenced by his quest for greater knowledge. In Shelley’s Frankenstein‚ biblical references and archaic language are used to heighten the severity of transcendental undertones; “thou hast made me more powerful than thyself…I will be mild and docile to my natural lord and king.” This alludes to Victor as the divine creator and questions his motives in his attempt to conceive life. Victor has lost power over
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12 AP Literature Frankenstein Dangerous Knowledge From the beginning of time until now the limitless pursuit of knowledge reveals man’s weakness. Modern society provides humans with a wide variety of sources on how to gain knowledge‚ both good and evil. The thirst for forbidden knowledge beyond what man can essentially handle‚ causes a tragic life. The protagonist in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley exemplifies the behavior of the ideal man grasping for more knowledge than he can truly bare;
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opens her book “Frankenstein‚” with a bittersweet setting which slowly turns into a horrific tragedy. Frankenstein lives a happy life until he finds himself in love with the idea of creating life. This desire consumes him until he is successful. Shelley portrays Frankenstein’s addiction in many different ways. The theme of dangerous knowledge is very powerful in the book. Eventually‚ Frankenstein destroys everything that is important in sustaining his happiness through the knowledge of the creation
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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
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Knowledge itself is a blessing which gives you the ability to create however with lack of responsibility one’s plans can derail. Having knowledge is overall an advantage‚ yet determining its use is the defining moment which will lead to a blessing or a curse. Victor or Dr. Frankenstein’s misuse of his knowledge leads to an uprise of a never ending curse. His curse begins to unveil when his creature is animated and becomes a murderer. As a result‚ this causes Victor to become distant from humanity
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Shelley’s Frankenstein‚ Doctor Frankenstein continues to use and implement his knowledge‚ which seems to go against nature and is called ‘dangerous’. This knowledge‚ when used to create his hideous monster‚ deeply affects his mental and physical state of mind. Shelley showcases this in chapter four of Frankenstein. In the novel‚ Frankenstein acquires knowledge‚ then causes detrimental harm to his mental and physical health. Dr. Frankenstein first had to acquire the required knowledge. In the beginning
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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
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