Oh the Sorrow

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Recommended: focus on the individual in frankenstein

Over the past few centuries, the intellectuals of society have made countless advances in science and the development of technology, which, to different degrees, have all benefitted mankind. These scientific discoveries are a result of man’s thirst for and dedication to acquiring knowledge, information and power. The innate curiosity and desire for understanding in an individual can grow so immense that his or her moral and ethical boundaries erode, which results in disastrous consequences for all who are involved. In Mary Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein the characters Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton and the creature are driven to absolute sorrow in direct consequence of their chase for the acquisition of knowledge.

Shelley displays how the pursuit of knowledge can lead to sorrow in the first character introduced in the novel, Robert Walton. Walton drives himself to his fate by his pondering thoughts of what the North Pole actually looks like. Walton discusses how he imagines it in a letter to his sister in which he states “I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight” (Shelley 1). This shows that Walton is trying so hard to believe that the North Pole is beautiful that it affects him enough to see through the desolation and pursue the North Pole. Walton also drives himself to sorrow by continuing his quest to the North Pole after being stuck between sheets of ice for weeks. Even though his crew had asked him to turn back and go home Walton decides to go along on his journey anyway. Walton shows this stubbornness when he states “How all this will terminate, I know not, but I had rather die than return shamefull...

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...owards Victor. For these reasons and many more the monster shows that not only does he learn quickly, but the more his desire for the pursuit of knowledge increased and the quicker he learned the more hatred he had towards Victor.

With the chase for the acquisition of knowledge, it can be seen that not only does it affect the person trying to acquire knowledge but also the people around that person. With these thoughts in mind it can be said that Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and the monster caused not only their own pity and disasters but death and sorrows to loved ones and friends around them. These characters show us that not only does striving to acquire knowledge hurt you but it can end in death and despair. In conclusion, when striving to achieve greatness through the acquisition of knowledge it will more than likely end badly with sorrows and despair.

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