Frankenstein
Having watched the movie Frankenstein was an experience that truly stirred up emotions in me that I thought was only normal for everyone who knew Frankenstein and be melodramatic for a day, but the chance to really understand the emotions I have felt back as I watched the movie was reading Frankenstein’s book story. Reading Frankenstein in depth made my understanding of its contents more comprehensive and led me to identify the many social issues within. Frankenstein was a tough read for me, but going on through it gets better and more exciting as I got used to the style and the language used therein. Can science have the ultimate power to push the human potential of manipulating life itself as something that man can create and give? The act of playing God usually comes with transgressions done in the field of science including choosing who must and who must not be given life which ultimately results in serious negative moral consequences.
Victor Frankenstein created a creature that he abandoned after contemplating his faults and deemed them unacceptable. He renounced his creation and totally rejects it because of its size and looks that frightened everyone as they greeted Victor’s creature with fear and violent reactions. Shelly’s Frankenstein revolved on issues of Victor’s science and ambition, moral responsibility, psychological balance and social isolation that must very well remind each one of us that humans are God’s images, and humans as scientists in continuing to probe into the power of creation and attempt to understand it must perform as stewards of God’s creation. The attempt to create a new creature with extreme powers sums up how humans can be so conceited in recognizing human abilities and the ...
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... issues in science that the author addresses by showing us science and its negative aspects. Whether or not Frankenstein has created a monster or a creature worthy of human sympathy, understanding, and respect is always a situation that must remind us that there are always dangers in the misuse of many technological developments as well as of human abilities. Humans playing God must utilize their capabilities in ways that will deepen and enrich the lives of human beings keeping in mind that the effect of much of scientific advance can lead to an arrogant aping of God’s power and reject accept what nature or God brings. Therefore the act of playing God as man is created in the image and likeness of God is not the ability to create life, but is the moral responsibility of humans that echoes the moral responsibility of God as in the capacity to act wisely and in love.
Previously portrayed through Frankenstein’s letters as the sole cause of both his and society’s despair, the monster’s use of the word “abortion” instead demonstrates Victor’s individual contribution towards his creature’s destructive path. Since the definition of abortion serves as the premediated act of terminating life, Frankenstein’s deliberate decision to desert his artificial creature exhibits society’s lack of sympathy for those with uncontrollable differences such as the monster’s physical deformities. Nevertheless, the textual irony of the monster’s frustrations eventually becomes apparent when the creature exclaims “Was there no injustice to this?”. Setting off a chain reaction of several more questions, Shelly’s text further mirrors the monster’s bafflement with the careless actions of Victor Frankenstein. That is, although Frankenstein gave his creation the “gift” of life, the monster has been perpetually denied every chance to live happily because of mankind’s relentless and inescapable hatred. More so, explained as the abandonment or failure of a process, Frankenstein’s ultimate refusal to love his own creation typifies how the creator’s ironic choices remain accountable for failing both the monster and
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme revolves around the internal and external consequences of being isolated from others. Being isolated from the world could result in a character losing his/her mental state and eventually causing harm to themselves or others. Because both Victor Frankenstein and the creature are isolated from family and society, they experienced depression, prejudice, and revenge.
Over two centuries ago, Mary Shelley created a gruesome tale of the horrific ramifications that result when man over steps his bounds and manipulates nature. In her classic tale, Frankenstein, Shelley weaves together the terrifying implications of a young scientist playing God and creating life, only to be haunted for the duration of his life by the monster of his own sordid creation. Reading Shelley in the context of present technologically advanced times, her tale of monstrous creation provides a very gruesome caution. For today, it is not merely a human being the sciences are lusting blindly to bring to life, as was the deranged quest of Victor Frankenstein, but rather to generate something potentially even more dangerous and horrifying with implications that could endanger the entire world and human population.
These two books show very well what can happen when religion and science try to battle with each other. There are two types of extremes. Those that want to use advanced technology to expand into the realms of God and those that want to use their religious stance to stop technology from advancing. Frankenstein is blinded by his obsession to create life and the Carmerlengo Carlo Ventresca went to the extreme to punish those that he thought had disobeyed his religion even if it was his own father. Neither extreme is completely right and yet both sides tend to think that they have all the answers. It is a battle that has been going on for centuries and one that is not soon to be done.
Critic Northrop Frye says, “Tragic heroes tower as the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, the great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein greatly exhibits the theme of the consequence of knowledge and irresponsibility among others through its tragic hero, Victor Frankenstein. Northrop Frye’s quote is certainly true when looking at Frankenstein’s situation. Victor is a victim of his divine lightning, and ultimately causes much trouble for himself; however, Victor also serves as the tragic hero in the lives of the monster, his family, and his friends.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, explores the monstrous and destructive affects of obsession, guilt, fate, and man’s attempt to control nature. Victor Frankenstein, the novel’s protagonist and antihero, attempts to transcend the barriers of scientific knowledge and application in creating a life. His determination in bringing to life a dead body consequently renders him ill, both mentally and physically. His endeavors alone consume all his time and effort until he becomes fixated on his success. The reason for his success is perhaps to be considered the greatest scientist ever known, but in his obsessive toil, he loses sight of the ethical motivation of science. His production would ultimately grieve him throughout his life, and the consequences of his undertaking would prove disastrous and deadly. Frankenstein illustrates the creation of a monster both literally and figuratively, and sheds light on the dangers of man’s desire to play God.
It has been turned into something destructive by society. Behind the ugly appearance of Frankenstein’s creature a vast capacity and potential is hidden. Though ugly, he is awesomely strong. He can cross distance at superhuman speed. His intellectual abilities are great – without any help and within a couple of months he learns to speak. He even studies literature. This is a creature made to be an angel but turned into a devil because of human society. The article shows that the main reason for the above mentioned transformation is Victor Frankenstein – the young scientist obsessed by the idea to dig into nature’s secrets, without paying attention to the possible consequences. Victor Frankenstein can’t overcome his disgust so he refuses to take any responsibility for any newly “born” creature and shows no love or understanding towards the lonely creation. The article provides us with Mary’s Shelly remarkable understanding that the quest for deep knowledge can result in a discovery with an extraordinary
With the advancement of technology and science, we are now able to genetically modify animals. Mary Shelley found a way to make science an epitome, and confirms what could happen if science is taken too far. In conclusion, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is considered to be a historical novel, based on scientific advancements. In this novel Shelley depicts her own definition of human nature, by showing the creature and the ways that humans react to him. The novel also showed the differences between morality and science.
The creation of life by unnatural method is a question that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein addresses. Through the events that result from Victor's attempt to bestow life to the inanimate, Shelley concludes that it is inappropriate for man to play god. With the advent of the science of creation, cloning, scientists now face the same problem that Shelley raised years ago. The applications of such research are numerous, all varying in severity. In what way the users for cloning are developed and performed is of much debate. Unfortunately, there is no absolute answer for the issue.
Humanity, as a race, is far from perfect: we cheat, lie, fight with one another, and at times, even with our creator. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a story about a man named Victor who plays God and creates another being. Now it turns out that this “being” is truly a monster in appearance, and, due to this, Victor rejects him. This leads into an epic story of creator versus creation. While on the surface this just appears to be a thrilling story of creation gone wrong, Shelley has a deeper meaning behind it. Mary Shelley’s use of text such as Paradise Lost and her allusions to the Bible suggest that the story of Frankenstein's creature is a recreation of the Biblical creation story and the downfall of humanity. Through this Mary Shelley shows that creation can never live up to its creator’s expectations, and because of this, leads to rebellion.
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly explores the concept of the body, life, ‘the self’ and most of importantly humanity, which is repeatedly questioned throughout the novel. The definition of humanity is the quality of being humane or in other words someone that can feel or possess compassion. Despite all the facts against the “monster” in “Frankenstein” he is indeed what one would consider being human. Humanity isn’t just about ones physical appearance but also includes intellect and emotion. Some people argue that the “monster” is not a human for he was not a creature that was born from “God” or from a human body. That being said, the “monster” is not only able to speak different languages, he can also show empathy - one of many distinct traits that set humans apart from the animals. Both the “monster” and his creator, Victor, hold anger and feel a sense of suffering throughout the novel. Victor is a good person with good intentions just like most individuals, but makes the mistake of getting swept up into his passion of science and without thinking of the consequences he creates a “monster”. After completing his science project, he attempts to move forward with his life, however his past – i.e., the “monster” continues to follow and someone haunt him. While one shouldn’t fault or place blame on Frankenstein for his mistakes, you also can’t help but feel somewhat sympathetic for the creature. Frankenstein just wants to feel accepted and loved, he can’t help the way he treats people for he’s only mimicking how people have treated him, which in most cases solely based on his appearance. Unlike most of the monsters we are exposed to in films past and present, the character of the “monster” ...
Recent advances in science have raised the question of morality in the world. How far will scientists go before experiments are deemed immoral? Frankenstein, the novel, raises a question regarding the line between morality and immorality. This novel refers to the difference between scientific advances as an advantage and a disadvantage. The novel Frankenstein reveals the immorality of creating artificial life beyond the laws of nature.
Since the beginning of time man has been infatuated with the idea of pushing the human body to its limits by the use of science. The Space program is the best example of science helping humans accomplish things never before thought possible. In the age of technology and scientific advancement ideas that once seemed like science fiction, for example people walking on the moon, are now a reality. In order to push human development, ethics and morals have been pushed to the side. Necessary evils have been accepted as part of science without a second thought. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, plays God by creating a monster out of body parts and bringing it to life. When Frankenstein realizes the full extent to what he’s done, he abandons the monster leaving it confused and lonely. The monster then
... provide us with the capacity for disaster. Shelley demonstrates this trend in Frankenstein, through the consequences of a scientist’s ambitious pursuit to create life, and raises the ever prevalent concerns with progression in science. However, she does this in a way that does not condemn the pursuit of knowledge or progress in science, but rather cautions us to take great care when exploring into new and untouched territories of nature. It's important that this warning is considered, with the progress of things like cloning, genetic engineering and countless other developments today that hold potential issues never imagined by those of Shelley's generation. Before we find ourselves mired in horrors generated by lack of scientific foresight, we need to ask ourselves, as Walton does: "What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?" (Shelley, 23).
Mary Shelley in her book Frankenstein addresses numerous themes relevant to the current trends in society during that period. However, the novel has received criticism from numerous authors. This paper discusses Walter Scott’s critical analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in his Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Review of Frankenstein (1818).