Morality is a key theme represented in Frankenstein, whether discussing human nature, man's cruelty to man, or scientific morality. In specific, scientific morality is particularly pertinent when discussing the key elements of Frankenstein. In effect, the story forces one to examine Because Frankenstein is a frame story, there are three major instances in which scientific morality is called into question, twice with Victor Frankenstein and once with Captain Walton.
The first instance where the reader can view the questionability of morality in scientific discovery occurs when Victor is creating his monster. Although the book, unlike the movie, does not dive into the exact scientific processes used by Victor to reanimate a dead corpse, the reader does gather that the creature is assembled from a collection of body parts. Here we can infer that Victor has blatantly rejected certain social standards such as respect for the dead and religious expectations to accumulate these parts. This forces one to ask, does possible scientific advancement supercede society’s laws; does the end justify the means?
Perhaps the best representation of morality in this scenario is
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In this victor instance pays much more attention the consequences of creating another creature which demonstrates that his at last giving attention to the morality of what he has done. Victor comes to the conclusion that although his intentions in creating the monster a companion would be derived from a want to save humanity and those he loves from the monster's attacks, the risk of setting to demons upon humanity is too great. Victor understands that by denying the monster his request he is placing his family under great danger, but the danger to the rest of humanity, should he comply, would be far greater. This scenario
While attempting to uncover the meaning of life and death, and though he believed his experiments would further the paths of science, Victor fails to see the potential consequences of “bestowing animation upon lifeless matter” (Shelley 37). This, in turn, creates a monster. After his “great” experiment, Victor spends his life in grief. Despite this, he manages to belittle his creation, and act superior to him, claiming that “I [Victor] will not hear you. There can be no community between you [the creature] and me; we are enemies” (Shelley 84). Even later on, when assured by the creature himself that Victor would be left alone if he creates a female counterpart, Victor cannot see past the shreds of pride he has left and refuses, causing the death of his family and loved ones. It’s Victor’s pride and his fear of the creature that clouds his judgement and in the end leads to his
Victor Frankenstein’s moral ambiguity lies in good intentions with bad results. Victor evolves from an intellectually curious, innocent and blameless man to being remorseful, secluded and obsessed with the
A morally ambiguous character is a character whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as either purely good or purely evil. The creature brought into being by Victor Frankenstein is the principle morally ambiguous character in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" which is demonstrated through the sympathy that the reader feels at the moment of his creation and instantaneous abandonment, his present but questionable morals, and the feelings of immediate hatred that the reader has towards him as he slaughters everyone that Victor cares about. The creature, or monster as he is referred to in much of the novel, has guilt piled
Perhaps the differences of morality and science could be defined in parallel stories within the novel, one attempting to discover the secret of life and death, and the other attempting to reveal the secrets of abnormalities. It is noticed that Victor Frankenstein is enthralled by science in the physical world, so he embarks on an experiment that forever changes his life. In a way it can be noticed that Victor Frankenstein is trying to play God. He wants to discover the unknown, and clarify the mysteries of creation; the mysteries behind life and death. After discovering the unknown, Victor walks out on his Creature leaving it to live independently, which was a terrible blunder that he does not feel
The novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley is a work of fiction that breaks the ethics of science. Ethics is defined as rules of conduct or moral principles which are ignored in the story. The story is about a person named Victor Frankenstein who creates an artificial being. Victor abandons the being out of fear and the being is left to discover the outside world on his own and be rejected by people making the monster go on a violent rampage. Victor’s decision would affect him later on by the monster killing his loved ones causing Victor to suffer. Then Victor chooses to seek revenge on the monster and this choice will bring him to his death. In novel Frankenstein one might say that the main character, Victor, breaks the ethics of
Victor thought “for this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”(page). This quote demonstrates that once Victor had concluded his work of creating the monster, he realized that it may have been a huge mistake. He was not satisfied with his creation instead he was filled with terror. In result of his realization, he left the monster to fend for himself and suffer. Victor shows an evil side of himself by abandoning the monster and leaving him to be universally shunned by society. By Victor doing this one evil act, it causes the monster himself to go off and initiate evil acts of his own.
When Victor Frankenstein was in the two year long process of creating his monster you have to think about what his personal morals were, principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Everyone has varying personal morals. Dr. Frankenstein goes against the morals of a medical doctor when he wastes his life away slaving over his experiment. He also tries playing God when he sparks the life back into the stitched together corpse. This corpse comes alive and is abandoned by his creator to roam the country without ever having the experience of growing up. Finally, Victor Frankenstein is burdened with the guilt of creating such a horrible creature, proving what he did was wrong. So, in the novel Frankenstein, the extension of life is the real moral question.
Victor made the right decision because the monster and the creature may not keep their promises. The monster may not keep his promise to leave humanity alone. The creature may not keep her promise and go and love somebody else instead of the monster. They both may not keep their promise and still continue killing people and not live in the forest. They both won’t keep their promise and procreation together.
Shelley’s Romantic novel Frankenstein (1818) compares and reflects values of humanity and the consequences of our Promethean ambition against the futuristic, industrialized world of Blade Runner (1992) by Ridley Scott. The notions of unbridled scientific advancement and technological progress resonate with our desire to elevate humanity’s state of being, mirrored amongst the destructive ambition to overtake and disrupt nature and its processes. The disastrous implications of overreaching the boundary between progressive and destructive power and knowledge are heeded through the ultimate and inevitable loss of self and identity, transforming humanity into a form of monstrosity.
The major turning point of the novel then begins; Victor endeavors to create a human being. If he would have been unsuccessful, the novel would have ended, but the question of whether it was moral to even attempt to create life would have still remained. Thus, the single most important and overriding theme in the novel begins - morality versus scientific discovery. “Questions of morality did not enter Victor's mind a single time before the creation of his human being."(Botting 112) He did not ponder the effects of his creation. Victor had a goal - to create life. By doing so
person to unleash such a terror on the world to benefit only himself and his
At this point Victor is responsible for two deaths and must keep this all to himself. By suffering through the guilt and the illness it is clear that his decisions that were made in order to deepen his knowledge of the scientific world are becoming dangerous to himself and the people close to him.
Classic texts are valued as their representation of cultural and social concerns are constructed in a way that continues to resonate with audiences despite their personal context. Cultural values are regarded by larger society as they reflect the social and political attitudes of the time. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, is a gothic science fiction novel written in 1818, which explores the dark side of the human psyche, a highly valued cultural value, formed from the romanticism era. Shelley explores the role of man as creator as she forewarns of the impact of scientific advancement. These issues are re-examined in the twenty- first century film, “Edward Scissorhands”. ‘Edward Scissorhands’ is an appropriation of Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’, directed by Tim Burton in the 1990. ‘Edward Scissorhands’ also explores the dark side of human psyche. Burton examines on what makes us human, as well as the perspective of living in society, being regarded as a ‘monster’. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 gender bender, sci-fi, comedy, horror musical film, directed by Richard O’Brien. O’Brien pursue in encouraging to expand our society’s social standards, a cultural value from the sexual revolution throughout the eras of the 1960’s to 1980’s. Shelley’s “Frankenstein” has been adapted by Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands” as well as O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. These films have adapted to “Frankenstein” as it explores the cultural value of the dark side of human psyche
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.
There is nothing more profound about the topic of science and technology than its ability to be a partner in helping to save lives. It is so influencial in coming up with the latest drugs to combat harmful and even deadly diseases and viruses such as AIDS, and some cancers. We are where we are today because of the remarkable innovations in science and technology. The idea that lives can be saved from such innovations as a new flu vaccine, or a new type of antibiotic that can battle chicken pox, and many other diseases. Its all about the advancements that we get from science and technology that let us live the way we do. Now, we dont have to worry about dying from the chicken pox or