The Evolution of a Creator

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Recommended: Dangers of the pursuit of knowledge from frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a novel filled with unique and in-depth characters. Throughout the chapters, Victor Frankenstein progresses from an ignorant and simple man to a mad man with chaotic actions. His supposedly innocent studies turn into an obsession for power and science. His thirst for authority forces him to abandon both his family and his childhood. Creating such an abomination possessed a terrifying quality that could possibly ruin everything that he had built up to. After creating the monster, he soon realized that it was the beginning of an end. Frankenstein’s actions unraveled his healthy lifestyle, creating a chaotic mess of ignoble deeds. Victor’s psychological downfall destroyed both his life along with the lives of the people around him. Knowledge is a dangerous thing when given to the wrong person for it possesses the ability to turn a sane man mad and drive an innocent man to murder.

In his earlier years, Victor’s life was simple and promising. He dreamed of fulfilling his studies by following his heart to the University of Ingolstadt. While there, he studied a number of things including alchemy, natural philosophy and various forms of science. “In this mood of mind I betook myself to the mathematics and the branches of study appertaining to that science as being built upon a secure foundation, and so worthy of my consideration” (27). Victor had an innocent heart filled with an incredible passion for science along with a good head on his shoulders. Like any other young scholar, he wished to learn about the world and the secrets within it. He began an ignorant journey where he had no inclination as to how the future would unravel.

Though his intentions were pure and good-hearted, they soon crumbled int...

... middle of paper ...

... the possibility of creation over-shadow his former life, creating a dangerous atmosphere throughout the novel. The psychological effects of power on Frankenstein’s thought process is what eventually lead to the destruction of his sanity. Victor attributes his tragic fate to his relentless search for knowledge, which was the true cause of his personal suffering. His termination proves to the reader that knowledge is dangerous and destructive in more than one way. Thomas Gray once said, “where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise,” meaning that whoever is foolish enough to seek knowledge will never see the light of day.

Works Cited

Jones, Chris. “Major Themes in Frankenstein, By Mary Shelley.” Yahoo!. 24 July 2008. 6 March

2011. Web.

“Frankenstein.” KnowledgeRush. 2009. 6 March 2011. Web.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books. 1818. Print.

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