Knowledge in Frankenstein.

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In Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’ the theme of Knowledge is cultivated for multiple purposes. These included the effects of scientific advances, the de-mystification of nature, nature’s revenge and social relations in the romantic era. By examining knowledge in relation to the characters of Victor, Walton and the Creature it can be seen that the theme of knowledge is used a warning against the Enlightenment and a personification of the social injustices of the time.

Frankenstein, in his Faustian quest for knowledge, comes to symbolise ‘the man of science’ within the text. His family background and social position places him as a man of the enlightenment. It is therefore arguable that Frankenstein represents the empirical strand of Enlightenment science and thus his quest for knowledge symbolises a large push for scientific knowledge in the 19th century. However, Shelly portrays Frankenstein’s project as defiling nature. This is seen in Frankenstein’s assemblage of the creature.

Thus he works within the very "citadel of nature" […] He collects "with profane fingers" pieces of the dead, his task is "loathsome," he becomes "insensible to the charms of nature," and the seasons pass unnoticed. The Monster comes into existence as a product of nature-his ingredients are one hundred percent natural-yet by the fact and process of his creation he is unnatural.

Here Brooks argues that although the components of the creature are essentially natural, the means in which they are assembled are unnatural, thus defiling natures will. For example, ‘profane’ and ‘loathsome’ seem almost evil descriptions of Frankenstein’s work. This quote also suggests that the influence of nature is lost from Fra...

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...ure. Ultimately, like Frankenstein, the forces of nature punish Walton. ‘I am surrounded by mountains of ice, which admit no escape, and threaten every moment to crush my vessel’ Walton’s entrapment in ice serves as nature’s revenge for the encroachment in its territory. Thus the expedition is cancelled for the safety of the crew and the knowledge is never gained, however It can be argued that Walton realises that knowledge is not worth self sacrifice unlike Frankenstein who loses everything. As both characters are punished for their acquisition of knowledge, it is feasible to draw comparisons with Prometheus. Frankenstein has been distinguished as a ‘modern Prometheus’ due to the similarities of their actions and eventual punishment. This can be seen as a further repetition of Shelly’s warning against the abuse of knowledge.

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