...In Chapter 24 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein decides to leave Geneva and its painful memories after his entire family is destroyed. After searching for the monster for months, Victor eventually runs into Robert Walton and tells him his story. At this point of the novel, Walton regains control of the narrative and continues to send letters to his sister, Margaret. He begins to tell his sister that he asked Frankenstein how to create a monster and bring it to life. To that, Victor replied “are you mad, my friend . . . or whither does your senseless curiosity lead you? Would you also create for yourself and the world a demoniacal enemy? Peace, peace! Learn my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own.” Victor’s outburst raises the question of whether or not knowledge is dangerous. Knowledge is in fact dangerous when it is either broad, or far beyond our need in life. “Such words, you may imagine, strongly excited my curiosity; but...
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...Scientific Morality in Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a late nineteenth century novel about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a living person from dead body parts and gives it life through the power of magic and alchemy. It serves as a cautionary tale that sheds light on the ethical boundaries of scientific experimentation and the potential consequences of ignoring those boundaries for the sake of knowledge alone. Although science is not inherently good or evil, it can be used as a tool for both in the hands of imperfect humans. Victor Frankenstein betrays the scientific code of ethics when he creates a man that society can never accept. Victor, as a scientist, follows the very same path which elementary school children follow today when learning the scientific method; observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and conclusion. Victor Frankenstein observes the power of nature through the destructive force of lightning. He sees the potential of such energies and develops a hypothesis based on his studies of Agrippa and Magnus (German scholars and philosophers), who he looks to as mentors. His hypothesis is that through the power of nature, he can reanimate organic tissue with the use of alchemy which his chosen mentors have claimed to achieve. Victor Frankenstein’s experimentation requires a form, which leads him to the charnel houses to claim tissue from the deceased. His hypothesis proves true, and a monster is born. Throughout the process...
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...How could a Titan God mould mankind out of clay? This is something Prometheus was capable of; he was someone very similar to Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the story of a man, Victor, who is far more intelligent than others and fascinated with the creation of life. After much time, he creates his monster that rejected by Victor and society. From his rejection, he plans to get revenge on Victory and mankind alone. There are many thematic ideas that arise during this novel. However, the two main themes are risky knowledge and secrecy which makes the novel easier to identify with. The consequences of arrogance are portrayed through the intelligent person which is seen mostly through Victor who goes above and beyond what the average person. The value of technology and invention is obviously observed through Victor’s creation “the monster”. Lastly, the loss of relationships is a main issue that not only Victor experiences. In Frankenstein, there is much value still alive today through the issues of risky knowledge and secrecy which is revealed by arrogance of intelligence, value of technology, and loss of relationships. The issue of arrogance through the intelligentsia is developed in several places throughout the novel. Victor is most easily identified with this issue because of his starvation for knowledge which he satisfies at the University of Ingolstadt. “My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive...
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...endeavour for knowledge, unable to comprehend the consequences, hence one allows their knowledge to become their weakness. The theme of dangerous knowledge is prominent in the story of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The three major characters face significant consequences due to their uncontrollable desire for knowledge, and more importantly, the manner in which they choose to do so. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the consequences of detrimental knowledge are shown through the actions and thoughts of the characters Frankenstein, Robert Walton and the Creature. The character of Victor in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley depicts the dangers of excessive...
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...engagement of argument and desire for power over others are common themes in “Frankenstein”. One character that desired power throughout the novel was the monster. The monster first came into the world when Victor Frankenstein became obsessed with chemistry and anatomy and seeked to build a creature out of old body parts. He started working and ended the project with his ultimate goal: a self-made creature. This, however, seemed to be Victor’s most significant mistake of his life, as the action led to untimely consequences. From the time of his creation to the death of him, the monster made sure to draw attention in an effort to gain power. He also frees himself...
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...imagery in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clear, evident, pervasive. Yet, while the novel suffers no shortage of mother figures, Shelley’s interpretation of the maternal archetype in her seminal work is unique in its focus. The theme of the maternal finds itself in a paradox wherein its absence becomes evidence for its ubiquity; it is everywhere in that it is nowhere. One can therefore conclude that the concept of motherhood in Frankenstein does not require a mother, but only demands the notion that there was once a maternal presence where there is now none. By promptly abandoning his role as his monster’s creator, Victor seems to have perfectly complied with Shelley’s aforementioned definition of the maternal archetype. Still, some argue that the fact of Victor’s sex precludes him from ever fulfilling the theme of motherhood in Frankenstein. Victor is a man; the evident conclusion would be to declare Victor a paternal force in his creation’s...
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...Prompt 2: Victor Frankenstein is more alienated than the monster he creates. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, written during the Romantic period, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, whose hunger for knowledge of the scientific universe drives him to create a human monster. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein describes his experiences with the monster to Robert Walton as horrifying and frightening. Shelley successfully demonstrates the Romantic concept of focusing on the self through the nature of the monster and Frankenstein, as well as through nature itself. Though both the monster and Frankenstein elicit forms of isolation, Frankenstein’s memories and experiences with his family and decision in toying with science and nature proves him more alienated than the monster he creates. Frankenstein’s memories and experiences with his family prove him more alienated than the monster. When Frankenstein receives a letter from his cousin, Elizabeth, she writes: “My dearest Cousin, you have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear Kind Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account” (Shelley 48). Elizabeth expresses concern for Frankenstein’s health, giving him a sense of love and care. Because Frankenstein holds a special connection to Elizabeth, someone he loves dearly, the thought of losing her terrifies him. Frankenstein’s bond to Elizabeth makes the monster’s murdering of her overwhelming and horrifying...
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...Frankenstein walks slowly though a cemetery with a torch light in his hands. He looks forth and sees Elizabeth and Clerval’s graves, a look of sickness fills his face. I wasn't sure I'd be able to face your graves. My regret very nearly kept me away. I didn’t think my work would kill. A problem solver I thought, like a loved one. I thought my creation would solve my problems, the loss of my mother. The one who loved, when love wasn’t seen to be needed. Frankenstein pauses in thought. My creation, a murderer. A murderer of innocent. I thought its species would one day bless me as it creator and source but instead it is now seeking hatred upon me. I wanted my creation to be new life a perfect species not a monster. I wanted others to see...
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...Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein and Scott’s film Blade Runner explore similar issues in vastly different contexts. They present the same issues; governed by the same values and perspectives. Both explore a dilemma that continues to be significant in the 21st century: the ethical and moral tension between the fear of humanity’s abuse of technology and the incredible potential for technology to extend life and even defy death. Shelley and Scott have crafted texts that portray individuals who challenged the established values of their time by considering the consequences to individuals who use technology to create life. These texts both emphasise the negative effect of progress on humanity and the natural environment through the use of language and visual forms and features. In Shelley’s novel, the exciting potential of technology that was becoming apparent in the nineteenth century had fascinated the young scientist Frankenstein. Desiring to challenge morality, he uses his new-found knowledge to fashion a creature out of human body parts who has great strength, but whose appearance is so monstrous that Frankenstein flees his laboratory in terror. The persona of Victor depicts humanities further obsession and greed for knowledge and power as he isolates himself from society. He marvels ‘It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desire to learn’ uses of the juxtaposition of heaven and earth shows Victor’s understanding of the implication of his actions. Shelley uses the...
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...Modern technology has given the world many new abilities and possibilities. We have progressed from preserving life to mending life, and now scientists have the ability to facilitate the creation of life. Many concerns from both the public and the scientific community have risen to comment on this manner of innovation. The scientific community took a large step forward with the results of genetically modifying animals and life outside of the human genome, however, the human genome may be included soon. Mary Shelley’s technological cautions in Frankenstein are reflected in the modern world in the genetic modification in humans. Similarly to the nature of the creation of the monster in Frankenstein, discussions about genetic engineering show...
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...disastrous, in this case, deadly. Victor Frankenstein is the creator of the creature. Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and bringing it to life. Immediately after creating the creature, he is terrified because he doesn't truly understand what he has created. He returns home to his family, only to find tragedy there. Victor is not fully aware of the consequences of his actions and in a turn of events he spends his entire life trying to destroy the the one thing he spent his entire life creating. Much like a mother figure Victor Frankenstein brings a creature into the world but unlike most mothers Victor...
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...world with an open and blank mind. A new born has no knowledge, no concerns or worries and it only seeks to fulfill its main necessities. Surrounded by the outside world one lives through many experiences where knowledge is accepted. Encountering other human beings reflects upon ones perception and brings about ones self decisions. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein demonstrates characters that through an obsessive desire for more knowledge ruin their own lives. Victor Frankenstein is a scientist, who creates a monster to life through his extensive knowledge of science, but the creature he creates brings terrible demise and Victor loses everything that was once close to him. The monster himself craves knowledge through his learning experience. He is fascinated by human nature and language and seeks to be a part of it. His desire to gain too much knowledge leads him to lose self control and destroys the lives of many people. Watson, similar to Victor, is an explorer who travels to the North Pole and chases after the idea of making a discovery. Watson serves as an example of being at risk for destruction, but after hearing about the deadly consequences of exploration he stops himself from making the same mistakes Victor did. The obsession of gaining too much knowledge causes a loss in self control and allows ones desires to take over, resulting in destruction. The desire of extensive knowledge is first seen through Victor Frankenstein. At the beginning of the novel, a young boy named...
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...Beginning more than thirty years ago, in 1981, scientists have unearthed ways to derive embryonic stem cells from mice, eventually gaining the knowledge to extract them from humans, in 1998. Embryonic stem cell research is when an egg and sperm cell is obtained from a donor, mixed in a Petri dish, and the egg is fertilized to produce a stem cell line for research.The scientists begin this process by conducting in vitro fertilization, or an egg being fertilized out of the womb, and into a lab setting. A stem cell is essentially a “blank” cell, that’s capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. In this case, a host cell where the embryo can prosper and grow to be used later on for research. In humans, mice, and other mammals, the embryo is a ball of approximately one hundred cells at this stage. Although embryonic stem cell research has great potential in deciphering the cause behind puzzling disorders such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's, and heart infractions,...
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...from his grotesque appearance but also from the unnatural manner of his creation, which involves the secretive animation of a mix of stolen body parts and strange chemicals. He is a product not of collaborative scientific effort but of dark, supernatural workings. The monster is only the most literal of a number of monstrous entities in the novel, including the knowledge that Victor used to create the monster. One can argue that Victor himself is a kind of monster, as his ambition, secrecy, and selfishness alienate him from human society. He is a selfish man who first creates the creature because he himself could not bear the loss of a loved one. Ordinary on the outside, he may be the true “monster” inside, as he is eventually consumed by an obsessive hatred of his creation. Finally, many critics have described the novel itself as monstrous, a stitched-together combination of different voices, texts, and tenses. The creature that Victor Frankenstein develops is considered a monster by all of the other people. No one is there to notice that there is a soft interior underneath the hard and ugly shell. While Frankenstein would not save a life when it would have cost him almost nothing, the creature saved a life when he could have perished as well. We see that while the c!reature did murder people, he also saved others from sure...
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...Abandonment of a child by a father has a lasting effect on the social and emotional development of a functioning being. The conflict between father and son can be rooted in many different circumstances and causes long-term conflict. The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, illustrates the struggle between a father and a son that occurs in all societies and time periods. In the novel, the father-son connection that is most crucial to the theme of the book: the impact of abandonment in a beings life. The relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his metaphorical son, the monster, demonstrates the horrors that come out of selfishness and ignorance in Victor’s disregard of his creation. The violence in Frankenstein stems from the original abandonment...
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