Loss Of Knowledge In Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein finds himself exploring the world of science where “it was the secret of heaven and earth… the outward substance of things or the inner spirits of nature and the mysterious soul of man” that attracted him (Shelley 18). Victor thirst for knowledge comes from his study of chemistry with a zeal for the antiquated world of alchemy. It was the alchemy books that convinces him to go beyond what the normal human limits can do, that is, the answer to life. Through the books he thrives on learning about natural science and looked upon the alchemists works and “took their word for all that they averred, and became their disciple” (Shelley 25). His readings direct him toward the study of forbidden knowledge which ultimately set him up for failure as he became addicted to create life to the point where he robbed graveyards for limbs and committing many unholy acts to create his monster. His unchecked ambition proves to have devastating consequences as his irresponsibility causes the death of those he loves most and he himself falls under the ascendancy of his own

Victor had an obligation to care for his creation, but chooses at first glance of his construction to abscond from its presence. The comparison of Victor as God-like highlights Enlightenment philosophers who have gone beyond the limits of humanity in order to attain knowledge. Victor is characterized then as a savant manipulating nature. The Creature acts as a balance for philosophers to stop and reflect upon their own enterprise and determine the fine line between acceptable and unacceptable knowledge as it pertains to nature. To this end, Shelley enforces that humanity must pay due respect to the limits placed in front of them by avoiding the Enlightenment philosophy that man is to find a definite definition for every phenomenon he encounters.

Victor Frankenstein was a young boy, born in Naples, who wanted to explore and figure out what was just beyond his reach through science. “My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement, but by some law in my temperature they were turned, not towards childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn… It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn,” (Shelly 37). At the age of thirteen Victor read a work of Cornelius Agrippa‘s, a German physician who was persecuted during his life for his mystical philosophies, while vacationing off the French shore of Lake Geneva. After reading Agrippa, Victor’s feelings toward natural philosophy soon changed into enthusiasm, and he continued to read other author’s including Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. “I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight, they appeared to me

Ever since man stepped foot on Earth, the search for knowledge has been neverending. Within the past few centuries, man reached new heights never before dreamed of when it came to information and inventions. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein embodies this quest for intellect. Victor Frankenstein, the main character, sets off on a journey to acquire as much education as possible, but by doing so ends up creating a shockwave of various effects. Thus, Frankenstein displays how the obsessive pursuit of and acquirement of knowledge leads to extraordinary accomplishments, such as new technology and inventions. However, at the same time, this impulse spurs nefarious actions and consequences.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). In Western culture, it was seen that knowledge was bad and obtaining could damage an individual. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, knowledge plays as a major factor for two characters: Victor and the Monster. Throughout the novel both thirst for knowledge and once it is found their mindset it changed and it wasn’t the answer they were hoping to see. Since Victor had become interested in the sciences he began to explore and went out to study at a University of Ingolstadt.

Thesis: In a world where knowledge is essential, it is often asked just how much intelligence is “safe”. In the story Frankenstein, Shelley expresses the idea that knowledge is power and this is shown through both despair and progress. This can easily be understood through the conclusion that science is almost always left up to chance even though it is thought to be a straight cut subject.

diverse general audience. The concepts of creation, human evolution, and what happens after death have been central in religion, culture, and science throughout history. Shelley tells of Victor's life-long work being realized then abhorred and ultimately the cause of his death. This paradox can be true even today in how civilization sees our modern advancements in technology and culture. Shelley's description of the relationship between Victor and the creature is very interesting as Victors half-baked efforts to become the god of an entire species branches to an amalgamation of body parts that results in an abomination under the eyes of Victor and the audience; but the creatures mind was twisted and abused by the horrors of human civilization and their prejudice towards nonconformity and the unknown.

Throughout the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is an excerpt from stories, letters and first person experiences from the characters. The idea of tabula rasa is a great example of how the Monster’s feelings are developed. The monsters experience from a family and the readings of some books, helped form his actions. The dangers of incomplete knowledge is a great interpretation of this book. That because of past experiences can develop good and bad of every similar situation. Although, the lack of knowledge can cause disruption of new and peaceful experience.

― John Milton, Paradise Lost In Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein, she develops that scientific knowledge is dangerous as it places man above god and destroys his morals. In all, Frankenstein is a book about a man who attempts to exceed the boundaries of science and life by bringing a person back to life and actually creating a monster. Shelly develops this argument through many examples, along with others that are not explained here. These include: what Frankenstein's mindset is when he first begins exploring science, how it is him along his way, and how it destroys his life and makes him regret his choices. At a young

In the bible, God warns people that the quest to obtain knowledge can create more grief than happiness (Genesis 11:4). Unfortunately, many people fail to realize the consequences behind their actions because they are blinded by the prize. Similar to God, Mary Shelley greatly reveals the dangerous outcomes of knowledge in her novel, Frankenstein. She believes that the quest to obtain knowledge can often lead to self-destruction, which she demonstrates in three of her characters: Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the monster. Whether it is the desire to reach the North Pole or the ability to break the cycle of life, each of these characters became architects of their own downfall.

The limits to the pursuit of knowledge are reached when man gets over ambitious like Victor frankenstein's ambition to master the creation of life. This over ambition can lead to problems of its own just like all of Victor's problems. All of Victor's problems started because of “the monster whom [he] had created” (189). Due to his over ambition

Knowledge is a power that numerous individuals desire and yearn for. Although acquiring knowledge may lead to a variety of helpful actions and inventions throughout the world, knowledge is actually a danger to society if you acquire too much of it. The danger of too much knowledge and the misuse of it could cause deaths amongst people and insanity within the person. Once knowledge takes over your mind along with the misuse of it, it could immediately lead to death.

In the novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein shows the cruel karma that joins in the achievement of attaining knowledge. With countless examples to support this statement, the opinion of this reader holds strong with the opinion of Mary Shelly, that the power of knowledge, though incredibly tempting to grasp hold of tightly, can be a dangerous achievement that can lead to more destruction than it can recover.

Victor Frankenstein has created a monster in despair who tortures him and his family to seek revenge throughout Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The monster committed many murders which brings up the question can the acquirement of knowledge be too dangerous. Victor’s curiosity put his knowledge to use by making a creation who unintentionally turned out to be a monster that caused unwanted conflict in humanity. The theme of knowledge being too dangerous is connected to the creation of the monster, nuclear weapons, and cloning.

Modern science has dramatically evolved over the past years, there is a concern on whether or not people will try to play God with such developments and what damaging consequences could occur. Body modifications, cloning, Genetic engineering, and various fields in biotechnology are prime examples of fields that are attaining great advancements in a swift manner that increase concerns over the consequences. Progress in science induces people to question what it means to be a human and their own human nature, just as it causes people to question the effects that scientific progress may have on their good fortune, happiness or common welfare.The protagonist of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is incited to advance the field of