The obsessed search for knowledge, fame and fortune can often undervalue one’s life and become the main focus of their existence. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she proves that obsession is a dangerous aspect of the human behavior, which always results in a negative outcome, this is mainly portrayed through the protagonist of the story Dr. Victor Frankenstein, because of Dr. Frankenstein’s obsessive personality he fails to recognize the affects of his scientific experiments which eventually lead to his and his family’s death. As the doctor gives a glimpse of his early childhood, his earliest memories include those of “Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensation I can remember” (Shelley 22). Very early on in Dr. Frankenstein’s life he was curious about science, his eagerness to unveil the “hidden laws of nature” is like a seed which then grows to the point of becoming his obsession later on in life with finding the cure for mortality. Once he begins his work on the creation of the monster he is often left sleepless and grows weaker because of the long hours of work he commits himself to. He states, “Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree” (Shelley 42). The reader has now witnessed his appetite for scientific breakthrough morphing into a self-obsessed yearning for acclaim and recognition. This gives a perfect example of his obsession as he is so focused on his work that he begins to ignore his family as well as his declining mental and physical well being. He knows that the religious and scientific communities would frown upon his experiment; this creates nervousne... ... middle of paper ... ... captain to “undertake my unfinished work, and I renew this request right now, when I am only induced by reason and virtue” (Shelley 207). Even on his deathbed he still wants to accomplish his goal of killing the creature. Some of his last words are used to pass on his mission to the ship captain. After the loss of almost all of his family he now feels the same bloodlust the monster has felt since the beginning. Victor Frankenstein is blinded to the consequences of his scientific experimentation because of his overly obsessive personality. Mary Shelley’s story serves as a cautionary tale warning against the damaging powers of obsession. The search for knowledge, recognition and prosperity can lead one down a very dangerous road and take them away from what really matters in their life. Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. Print
The unwavering desire for knowledge may cause the decay of relationships. This idea is displayed as Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist, continually desires to create human life from inanimate materials, which leads to the destruction of many of his relationships. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, exhibits how the constant desire for information may cause the deterioration of relationships through the decayed relationships Victor has with himself, his family, and society.
Frankenstein has been interested in natural science since childhood and has described himself to “always have been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature”(Shelley 25), which foreshadows his future aspiration to create life, and
Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley, illustrates the trials including Victor Frankenstein's triumphs, a character who owned a lovely with memorable life experiences that shaped the independent college student he became. Despite Victor growing up in a welcoming setting, he struggled to find the intellectual purpose of acquiring a college education in his physical science interest to generate the likelihood of reviving a dead corpse with electricity to acquire the comfortability to feel like God. Mary Shelley used diction and imagery to convey shifts in mood that supported the plot of chapters one through five in Frankenstein to inundate the reader with the feelings the characters of the story were facing.
Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, has captured people’s attention since it was first written. People often wonder how much of Mary Shelley’s life is documented in her novel. From the theme of parental abandonment, to the theme of life and death in the novel, literary scholars have been able to find similarities between Frankenstein and Shelley’s life. The Journal of Religion and Health, the Journal of Analytical Psychology, and the Modern Psychoanalysis discuss the different connections between Shelley’s life and Frankenstein. Badalamenti, the author of “ Why did Mary Shelley Write Frankenstein?” in the Journal of Religion and Health, primarily discusses the connection between Victor
As Human As It Gets In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley proves that things are not always what they seem. Harold Bloom, in the "After word" in the Signet Edition of Frankenstein states: "The monster is at once more intellectual and more emotional then his Maker"The greatest paradox and most astonishing achievement of Mary Shelley’s novel is that the monster is more human than his creator. This nameless being…is more lovable than his creator and more hateful, more to be pitied and more to be feared…” When one hears the word “monster” they think of someone who is evil and fearful, with no human like qualities at all. So how is it that Bloom can say that the monster is more human than his creator?
Events of the time had led to a near breakthrough to bring the dead to
Frankenstein describes the commencement of his life as a blissful time with his family. During his childhood, Frankenstein was ardent about learning, but his emotional link with Elizabeth kept him from consummately engrossing himself in his studies. When Frankenstein left home to study at the University of Ingolstadt, he became fixated on his quest to denude the mystery of life. He tells of working in the laboratory until sunrise and being nonchalant to the comeliness of the world around him. These vicissitudes in Frankenstein's way of life represent Shelley's notion that one's passions must be contro...
Since a boy, Frankenstein’s passion is to explore science and that which cannot be seen or understood in the field. He spent the later part of his childhood reading the works of commonly outdated scientists whose lofty goals included fantastic, imaginative desires to “penetrate the secrets of nature” (Vol. 1, Ch. 2). While he was told that these authors predated more real and practical scientists, he became intrigued by their ambitions, and devoted himself to succeeding where they had failed. When Victor is criticized at college for his previous studies in obsolete research, he takes after one of his professors, M. Waldman, in studying chemistry. In a lecture, Waldman tells of ancient teachers in chemistry who promised miracles and sought after “unlimited powers” (Vol. 1...
Victor Frankenstein, blinded by pride, remained unaware of how his experiment would affect not only him, but the world around him as he formed his new discovery. His secret to creating life only caused more life to be lost. Because of Victor’s reckless behavior, he caused the depressed and lonely world around his own creation, one who, in the end, Victor did not want to take responsibility for making, no matter how remarkable. The Creation, a being of unfortunate circumstance, exemplifies how knowledge has dangerous and everlasting effects if not used safely or for good intentions. Unfortunately, The Creation leaves his own damage behind as well, again showing how knowledge is harmful, by killing Elizabeth, Victor’s wife, Henry Clerval, his dearest friend, and other members a part of Victor’s family and friends. This demonstrates how knowledge, if not used wisely, can lead to death and suffering. The power of knowledge, in Mary Shelley’s writing, is a gift bestowed on those who can handle the power responsibly, as opposed to using it for selfish boasting. In contrast, she uses these two characters to show the importance of being knowledgeable in both science and responsibility and the unforgivable mutilation that comes if you fail to overcome
“The desire of knowledge in excess caused men to fall” throughout history, in the modern day, and in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Francis Bacon). It has often been said that the quest for knowledge is dark and dangerous. Many people have lost their lives searching for answers to their questions. This quest is the focus of several of the characters in Frankenstein including Robert Walton, the creature, and Victor Frankenstein. Each of them are after different pieces of knowledge but all their adventures have the same misfortune. For this reason, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein serves as a warning to those who search for wisdom because the path often leads to misery and destruction.
Education is a tool to advance an individual and a society; however, education can become a means to gain power when knowledge is used to exercise control over another. In Frankenstein, knowledge becomes the downfall of both Victor Frankenstein and the Monster. The novel explores the consequent power struggle between Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the contrast between intellectual and physical power. Finding themselves in mirroring journeys, Victor Frankenstein and the Monster are locked in a struggle for dominance. Through these two characters, Mary Shelley explores the consequences of an egotistical mindset and of using knowledge to exercise power over others.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a nineteenth century literary work that delves into the world of science and the plausible outcomes of morally insensitive technological research. Although the novel brings to the forefront several issues about knowledge and sublime nature, the novel mostly explores the psychological and physical journey of two complex characters. While each character exhibits several interesting traits that range from passive and contemplative to rash and impulsive, their most attractive quality is their monstrosity. Their monstrosities, however, differ in the way each of the character’s act and respond to their environment. Throughout Frankenstein, one assumes that Frankenstein’s creation is the true monster. While the creation’s actions are indeed monstrous, one must also realize that his creator, Victor Frankenstein is also a villain. His inconsiderate and selfish acts as well as his passion for science result in the death of his friend and family members and ultimately in his own demise.
...Frankenstein and the creature. The situations that each character experience are lessons about how seeking prohibited intelligence comes with extreme consequences. Frankenstein is a Gothic novel which means it involves the supernatural; however, because it contains religious qualities it is more appealing to the common people’s idea of knowledge. Mary Shelley achieves her goal of informing the audience that man should not seek or possess the level of knowledge that God acquires. One should learn from the situations present in the novel because life comes with an enormous amount of knowledge; going after the unknown is an act of rebellion against God.
Victor Frankenstein finds himself exploring the world of science against his fathers wishes but he has an impulse to go forward in his education through university. During this time any form of science was little in knowledge especially the chemistry which was Victors area if study. Victor pursues to go farther than the normal human limits of society. “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Chapter 4). He soon finds the answer he was looking for, the answer of life. He becomes obsessed with creating a human being. With his knowledge he believes it should be a perfe...
Victor Frankenstein, the monster’s creator, is the victim of his own pride. An ego unchecked is a dangerous thing. But in truth, it really just shows Victor’s humanity. He is privileged, educated, talented, loved, adored, but he is not perfect. His flaw is his own ego and pride. Without doubt, this is the result of a childhood where he was overindulged. Overindulged to the extent he was given a little girl “Elizabeth” as a “present”, whom he considered from childhood “mine only” (Shelley 21). Little wonder the twenty year old Victor would think he could create, control and command life. But Victor as with any indulged child did not take the time to learn much from his parents about parenting and fath...