Parental Influence In Frankenstein

What do parents owe their children in terms of education? In modern times, belief of society is that parental influence is a key factor to a child’s educational success. Parental and authoritative figures serve as role models and provide discipline and resources that are essential to a child’s educational development and prosperity. Mary Shelley refutes this notion in her novel Frankenstein, where she examines the educational success of characters without proper parental roles and who rebel against the authoritative figure’s guidance. Said characters include Frankenstein’s creature and Robert Walton, who become masters of their discipline without any parental nourishment. Moreover, Victor Frankenstein becomes a master of a philosophy which

Robert Walton first develops this dream while reading the many books in his uncle’s library as a young boy. Mary Shelley discusses his passion when she writes, “My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volume were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning my father’s dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to embark in a sea bearing life” (28). Robert Walton disobeyed the minimal parental guidance he received and extensively studied the sea bearing lifestyle. Due to his great drive for discovery, he dedicated his life to this cause. Robert demonstrates that parent nourishment is not necessary to accomplish one’s goals of success. As seen in the past, people who make great discoveries push society’s conceptions of what is correct. However, this is usually discouraged by general society. Robert’s father’s discouragement is a reflection of this view held by the society of the time. Robert’s drive for defiance demonstrates that one does not need a parental figure in order to be well-educated and embark on new

Though Victor Frankenstein received a formal primary and secondary education, he was forced to extensively study these works in his spare time. Mary Shelley describes Victor’s hunger for knowledge when she writes, “I took their word for what they had averred, and I became their disciple. It may be strange that such should arise in the eighteenth century; but while I followed the routine of education in Geneva, I was, to a great degree, self taught in regards to my favorite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge” (57). This quotation demonstrates Victor’s desire to learn said sciences despite the lack of encouragement from his father. Victor’s defiance and thirst for knowledge even led him to create life from the dead. This rebellion demonstrates his unrelenting determination. Although Frankenstein’s actions are irredeemable, his immense desire to master the philosophies of pseudoscience led to remarkable scientific discoveries. These discoveries demonstrate that parental guidance is not necessary in the mastery of a discipline; solely the thirst for knowledge and determination is