Comparing The Cost Of Playing God In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The Cost of Playing God in Frankenstein “What can stop the determined heart and the resolved will of man?”

Mary Shelley posed this rhetorical question through the character of Robert Walton in her novel Frankenstein (Shelley, 24). In this day and age, almost 200 years after Shelley published Frankenstein, anything seems to be possible, with advances and discoveries in the fields of science, technology, and medicine breaking new ground every day. From the invention of the computer to stem cell research, the human race has become more and more aware of ways in which it can improve the way of life and, in some cases, expand the average life span. As a species, humans strive to move forward, to keep progressing and pushing boundaries previously

He wishes to stand literally on top of the world, not unlike the gods of Greek mythology who reside on Mount Olympus, overlooking all that they command. Paul Sherwin sums up Walton’s visions of grandeur, saying that “to be there would be to capture the heavens in a glance, to tap earth’s central power source, and to stand within the magic circle of poets he once sought to emulate but whose sublimity he could not match” (Sherwin 88). Walton sees this journey as a not only as a service to mankind, but also one that will allow him to “obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated” (16). Shelley introduced Walton early on as a character who will do whatever it takes to reach the goal he set forth in his early years, having him admit in his letter that he would rather have the glory that came with the discovery more than “every enticement that wealth placed in [his] path” (17). With these statements, readers begin to perceive Walton as an arrogant man who thinks his plan is too big to fail. Having gone through all the necessary preparations as well as having a strong mix of ego and determination, it appears Walton will very likely reach his goal by the last letter to his sister at the end of the novel. Only a serious matter of persuasion could deter him from his

Jürgen Barkhoff said the want of man to play God is “as old as man himself,” so it makes sense that, much like Walton, destiny set Frankenstein’s path at a young age (Barkhoff 39). He becomes interested in studying the ways in which the world worked, first with alchemy, then later on in life a curiosity blooms in the fields of both mathematics and natural sciences. His unmatchable interest in learning leads him to declare, “natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate,” setting forth the events that would lead him to attempt and create life (40). In doing so, Frankenstein hopes that he will be looked up to, not only by society at large, but mostly by his creation, who he believes will “bless [him] as a creator and source” (55). The thought of possible disaster does not cross his mind, that by creating life, he would actually court death. A surprising fact, due in part that he has seen such a thing happen in his lifetime. When his Elizabeth falls ill and is on her deathbed, Frankenstein and the rest of his family attempt and stop his mother from visiting Elizabeth’s bedside. Caroline ignores the warnings and visits her dying child. Elizabeth returns to full health, but Caroline is not so fortunate, as “the consequences of this imprudence were fatal” (44). Had Frankenstein been a bit more