Going Too Far Into The Unknown

Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, explores the theme of the pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery through the main characters; Victor Frankenstein, the Creature and Robert Walton. This pursuit of knowledge drives the plot of the novel, leading Victor to create the Creature in his attempt to break down the mortal barriers that surround him and unlock the secret of life. Robert Walton’s quest for discovery leads him to the North Pole, far beyond the reach of Humans at that time. Ultimately Victor’s thirst for knowledge and scientific discovery did him more harm than good with Victor’s hatred of his creation driving him to death. Frankenstein’s message to the modern is age is simply put as “humans should not meddle in the business of the gods”. Mary Shelley’s is using Frankenstein and the actions of the characters in the novel to warn us that although we have the technology to for example, create a human being, some things are better left to nature. In our quest for knowledge we can do ourselves more harm than good. Through her novel Shelley tells us that on our path of scientific discovery there are some trails better left unexplored.

Although humans have the tendency to set idealistic goals to better future generations, often the results can prove disastrous, even deadly. The tale of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, focuses on the outcome of one man 's idealistic motives and desires of dabbling with nature, which result in the creation of horrific creature. Victor Frankenstein was not doomed to failure from his initial desire to overstep the natural bounds of human knowledge. Rather, it was his poor parenting of his progeny that lead to his creation 's thirst for the vindication of his unjust life. In his idealism, Victor is blinded, and so the creation accuses him for delivering him into a world where he could not ever be entirely received by the people who inhabit it. Not only failing to foresee his faulty idealism, nearing the end of the tale, he embarks upon a final journey, consciously choosing to pursue his creation in vengeance, while admitting he himself that it may result in his own doom. The creation of an unloved being and the quest for the elixir of life holds Victor Frankenstein more accountable for his own death than the creation himself.

“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” (Shelley 60). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, she expresses her beliefs regarding the danger of pursuing happiness through the attainment of knowledge, because true happiness is found in the emotional connections established between people. The pursuit of knowledge is not necessarily an evil thing, but it can cause destruction when it is pursued beyond natural limits. Victor Frankenstein becomes a slave to his passion for learning in more than one way; first his life is controlled by

Frankenstein, written by author Mary Shelley, was a romantic based story written in Europe during the eighteen hundreds. During this time period, Europe was experiencing many social and economic changes. Many of these changes were a product of the industrial revolution of Europe. This time period can be defined and era of exploration, discovery and industrialization in which ideas were pushed to the limits. Victor’s creation of Frankenstein is a reflection of the industrial revolution and a scientific era in which the borders of the possible are pushed and society is forced to face a monster of their own.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein explores the concepts of knowledge and science and the dangers involved with the pursuit and investigation of these ideas. The novel conveys Shelley’s attitudes towards science by portraying it as having the capability to exceed the bounds of human restraint. Through the development of her protagonist Victor Frankenstein, the romantic and gothic aspects of her novel, the period of 1818 and the influences of the world she was living in that

Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein cannot merely be read as a literary work of the early 19th century. It represents the workings of young Shelley's mind. Further, it represents the vast scientific discoveries of the time, combined with Mary Shelley's intuitive perception of science. She views science as a powerful entity, but also recognizes the dangers if uncontrolled. Shelley demonstrates this fear in the book as science drives Victor Frankenstein to create his monster. In the end, it is also his use of science that inevitably becomes his demise.

In her novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley warns of the boundaries of scientific exploration. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant scientist, attempts to play God in resurrecting a corpse and creating new life. This has disastrous effects which include the death of many characters throughout the novel. All told, the story provides a cautionary tale of the attempts to “play God” in regards to scientific advancement. This raises the question of how far is too far in terms of scientific exploration.

Victor Frankenstein, a complex character created by Mary Shelley, experienced a complete change in attitude and perspective on the scientific world as he knew it. Between the deaths of his close family and friends, to the constant fight for survival as his own creation stalked him, Victor was under straining circumstances that allowed for his evolution as a character. Pre monster, Victor had strong morals and close relationships with his family. His family was his priority. Victor’s dedication to science was always a constant nagging in the back of his mind, but it did not mean more to him than his family dead. During the formation of his creation, he began to block off his family, especially his fiancee, Elizabeth. His dedication to science was his only priority, above food and hygiene. He was driven by the creation of his monster. After creation, his family members were killed off, eliminating any type of relationship he had with them, he rejected all science and moral values.

Frankenstein is a story full of questions and excitement. What is interesting about Shelley’s novel is the absence of God and multiple female characters. She ignores the proper way of conception and birth. Due to this, the science of what Victor accomplished had gone awry. His goal while creating the monster was a perfect race in which they would help mankind, “even though the dream of the new race is...exploded” in the end (Levine 12). Victor Frankenstein

Humans are constantly expanding their research to discover unknown concepts that may improve the performance of society. The same was intended by the main character, Victor, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Victor’s interest and obsession with the physical sciences motivated him to create a living being from deceased materials. However, after the creation came to life, Victor became mortified at the sight of the monster and lived in constant fear and depression throughout the novel. He started realizing the consequences of his creation as it ruined his living peace and the ones he loved most and so, as the novel progresses he tries to destroy what he constructed.

It must be noted, in any case, that in spite of Shelley's message about the naturally impartial nature of science and learning she is not saying that science and information can't be risky. There is certainly an uncertainty to science, one which is produced out of the way of humanity. Chris Baldick contends this point in his "In Frankenstein's Shadow", saying "learning is appeared to be twofold edged, its advantages and risks relying on the circumstances, and the soul, in which it is sought after" (Baldick 45). Human culture and researchers must be capable with their manifestations and disclosures; on the off chance that they are then the sad outcomes found in the occasions of "Frankenstein" won't happen. However this doesn't imply that human

Frankenstein was written two hundred years ago by Mary Shelly when she was eighteen years old. A science fiction novel but often read as a gothic horror story and ominous warning about the ramifications exceeding boundaries of science. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, at a young age has been fascinated by life and death and classical experiments of the alchemists, thus creating his first subject the Monster. Frankenstein epitomized the climatic change in the study of science during the eighteenth century. The time is characterized by important experimentations and rise of scholars such Faraday, Dalton, and Benjamin Franklin. There were signs in the novel that it was influenced by scientific discovery of our modern understanding of electricity. Shelly attempted to uncover the limits to which science can surpass morals. Frankenstein who attempted to attain powers through science by his display of creation of life and death, has forbidden limitations and unforgiving ramifications.

Cloning does have its advantages such as finding specific cures for diseases and will end fatal diseases. However, it will cause an uproar against science due to the fact that cloning will decrease the immunity of human beings to fight off diseases (Putatunda 1). Thus making human weak against evolving or unknown diseases. Victor Frankenstein regrets making his monster and eventually, the creature kills all of his family and friends. The monster is a threat to the family and friends of Victor Frankenstein and is comparable to the threat to humans. This relates to being a threat to human evolution considering the fact that humans will die from pursuing the method of

While desires are generally thought of as emotions, some psychologists claim that desires are different from a persons emotions; When the body needs nutrients or energy it makes the person feel hungry, so this person “desires” food or water. “It is not the drink he desires, but replenishment by drink, which is a change of state” (148 Adler). An emotional need is a preference that someone has decided must be achieved to maintain symmetry, each one can’t feel whole or be without it. When someone desires another being or item, the sense of longing in a person is awakened by the indulgence or the thought of the element or person, and they want to take actions to obtain that goal. The motivational aspect has been recognized by philosophers for many centuries; Thomas Hobbes proclaimed desire is the essential motivation of all human/animal

Through the act of breaking tradition, the fictional character Frankenstein faced rather extreme consequences from his actions. Victor Frankenstein was driven by his desire to go above and beyond the limits of the scientific discovery of