The Importance Of Scientific Discovery In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Scientific discovery is a concept that is hard to understand because morality is always in the back of our minds. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a novel that condemns scientific experimentation and exploration. The relationship between Walton and Frankenstein show this as well as the choices Frankenstein makes. Frankenstein is the scientist that goes too far in his experiments, and at the end of the novel, he explains to Walton that he should turn back and let things go. This fight against morality and science is one that is consistent, but the novel condemns science.

Throughout the book, Mary Shelley created many people who were against Frankenstein’s science. M. Krempe was a professor at the college that told Frankenstein to start his education

Krempe was just one person who disagreed with the science Victor was studying. His father was another person who did not appreciate his learning decisions. His father describing the science that should not be looked at is described with this narration, “My father looked carelessly at the title-page of my book and said, ‘Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash’” (20). The science is outdated and Frankenstein should not be studying something so unmoral. The fact that Mary Shelley put so many people in the novel that discouraged Frankenstein shows her disapproval of science and the

Frankenstein didn’t realize the horror of his creation until it was alive. Walton on the other hand realizes that sometimes you have to turn around. His response to Victor at the end was: “’Alas! Yes; I cannot withstand their demands. I cannot lead them unwillingly to danger, and I must return’” (161). The crew was very happy to turn around, and yet Victor could not go with them, but couldn’t give up even on his death bed. He states, “’You may give up your purpose, but mine is assigned to me by heaven’” (161). These relations show that Walton cares for other people, while Frankenstein was selfish, even when he is dying. Frankenstein refused to get help because he could always fix it. When Justine was in prison he could only think about himself, “But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation” (59). Victor could have changed the course of Justine’s future if only he spoke up and admitted to what he did. But in her dying hours, he only thought of himself and what he was feeling instead of what he could do. Walton on the other hand thought of his crewmates and turned around on their wishes. This is what makes their histories different. Victor never found what he was looking for until it was too late, and Walton will go looking somewhere