Scientific Progress as Seen in Frankenstein

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Scientific Progress as Seen in Frankenstein In the novel 'Frankenstein', scientific progress is seen as immoral

particularly as it displaces women's 'function', which, in the 19th

Century was solely as a child bearer, and stereotypical mother.

Elizabeth falls victim to this portrayal. 'Elizabeth my love, you must

supply my place to my younger children' the use of language is of a

great deal of interest, note how the term 'supply' is used rather than

an alternative such as 'provide'. 'Supply' suggests Elizabeth is to

replace the role of Mother in the household. The expression 'my love'

implies that Elizabeth is cherished, and that even at her deathbed her

mother is still the stereotypical mother despite being weak and

vulnerable, she stays strong to be a source of strength for her

daughter. The term 'my love' also shows that Elizabeth is cherished

and her Mother sees her to be fit to obtain the role of Mother of the

household. 'She indeed veiled her grief' whilst being meek Elizabeth

is forced to be strong for the family's sake. However, when Victor

'supplies' the monster, the role of child bearer is taken from women,

and they are portrayed in a different manner, a man making a creature

defied not only science but also the role of women, perhaps in some

ways women are freed of their only weakness, yet Frankenstein is

unwilling to accept this. Therefore, soon after we see Justine taking

the wrath of the monsters murder. ' For all of t...

... middle of paper ...

... any guilt he may have, he

may say, he had metaphorically 'suffered living torture' but if it was

so, he would have admitted to the monsters existence, or in some way

attempted to put an end to the destruction the monster could, and

would cause, not only for Victor himself but furthermore to his family

and wife.

Only God can create, and the tragic ending for the monster and for

Victor, both of whom were the main protagonists throughout the book

only succeeds in emphasising this. The moral being that attempting to

take over God's role can only cause commotion, to not only yourself,

but to everyone else. The use of cloning and scientific exploration

may evolve, but at the price of others lives, it should be destroyed.

Therefore, Frankenstein is largely a book illustrating a view, which

has relevance to us even now.

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