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Victor Frankenstein Ethics

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With creation in his hands and the promise of glory saturating his mind, Victor Frankenstein pushes the boundaries of scientific exploration in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The pursuit of science necessitates the exploration into the unknown and the breadth of discovery is seemingly boundless in opportunity. The line between ethics and science is often obscured by the ambition, conviction, and curiosity that is inherent in mankind. Through the consequences of Victor’s singular creation, Shelley imparts the ethical boundaries of science that mankind should be limited to. The advent of the creature is the crux of how Shelley illustrates that scientists should not desert their work, surpass the rudimentary laws of nature, and harm humans and the environment. A scientist is always bound to their experiment and has an unwavering role of mediating the project until its end. Shelley demonstrates this limitation by underscoring the severe consequences Victor has to face when abandoning his experiment. After its egression, the experiment is allowed to roam free into a prejudiced society due to Victor’s fearful disposition. Though Victor finds a moment of solace away from his fearsome project, he begins to suffer from erratic ailments. While the creature and Frankenstein are detached geographically, Shelley employs illnesses and episodes of paranoia to illuminate the fact that Victor and his experiment are intrinsically bound to each other. The creature “was forever before

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