The obsessed search for knowledge, fame and fortune can often undervalue one’s life and become the main focus of their existence. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she proves that obsession is a dangerous aspect of the human behavior, which always results in a negative outcome, this is mainly portrayed through the protagonist of the story Dr. Victor Frankenstein, because of Dr. Frankenstein’s obsessive personality he fails to recognize the affects of his scientific experiments which eventually lead to his and his family’s death. As the doctor gives a glimpse of his early childhood, his earliest memories include those of “Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensation I can remember” (Shelley 22). Very early on in Dr. Frankenstein’s life he was curious about science, his eagerness to unveil the “hidden laws of nature” is like a seed which then grows to the point of becoming his obsession later on in life with finding the cure for mortality. Once he begins his work on the creation of the monster he is often left sleepless and grows weaker because of the long hours of work he commits himself to. He states, “Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree” (Shelley 42). The reader has now witnessed his appetite for scientific breakthrough morphing into a self-obsessed yearning for acclaim and recognition. This gives a perfect example of his obsession as he is so focused on his work that he begins to ignore his family as well as his declining mental and physical well being. He knows that the religious and scientific communities would frown upon his experiment; this creates nervousne... ... middle of paper ... ... captain to “undertake my unfinished work, and I renew this request right now, when I am only induced by reason and virtue” (Shelley 207). Even on his deathbed he still wants to accomplish his goal of killing the creature. Some of his last words are used to pass on his mission to the ship captain. After the loss of almost all of his family he now feels the same bloodlust the monster has felt since the beginning. Victor Frankenstein is blinded to the consequences of his scientific experimentation because of his overly obsessive personality. Mary Shelley’s story serves as a cautionary tale warning against the damaging powers of obsession. The search for knowledge, recognition and prosperity can lead one down a very dangerous road and take them away from what really matters in their life. Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. Print
The unwavering desire for knowledge may cause the decay of relationships. This idea is displayed as Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist, continually desires to create human life from inanimate materials, which leads to the destruction of many of his relationships. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, exhibits how the constant desire for information may cause the deterioration of relationships through the decayed relationships Victor has with himself, his family, and society.
Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, follows the story of Victor Frankenstein, his self-driven seclusion from society due to his fixations on life and death only stimulating his madness: “I paused, examining and analyzing all the minutiae of causation, as exemplified in the change from life to death, and death to life… I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect… that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret” (Shelley 38). Frankenstein always had a passion for gaining knowledge. His feelings and actions were based on reasoning, which deeply contrasted against his more romantic-thinking family. In his years leading up to going to university, he found a new passion for alchemy. While attending the University of Ingolstadt, he became entranced with the studies of alchemy along with natural philosophy and modern sciences. This ardor would eventually be his downfall after his fixation on life and death in relation to science led to the construction of an eight-foot behemoth. Frankenstein exemplifies the effects of
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a nineteenth century literary work that delves into the world of science and the plausible outcomes of morally insensitive technological research. Although the novel brings to the forefront several issues about knowledge and sublime nature, the novel mostly explores the psychological and physical journey of two complex characters. While each character exhibits several interesting traits that range from passive and contemplative to rash and impulsive, their most attractive quality is their monstrosity. Their monstrosities, however, differ in the way each of the character’s act and respond to their environment. Throughout Frankenstein, one assumes that Frankenstein’s creation is the true monster. While the creation’s actions are indeed monstrous, one must also realize that his creator, Victor Frankenstein is also a villain. His inconsiderate and selfish acts as well as his passion for science result in the death of his friend and family members and ultimately in his own demise.
The desire to discover and to comprehend the obscure concepts of life is one of our timeless dreams. Many literary works present some of these dreams and demonstrate their result on individuals.. Mary Shelley’s novel , Frankenstein, follows the adventures of a scientist with divine ambitions which ultimately lead him to pursue miraculous capabilities of God. Victor, the protagonist, attempts to attain a status higher than God in order to control life. Dignity, Victor’s primary motivation, emerges throughout the novel along with his exorbitant use of science. The knowledge Victor obtains through his observations and lessons ultimately result in his solitude and defeat.
Since its publication in 1818, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has grown to become a name associated with horror and science fiction. To fully understand the importance and origin of this novel, we must look at both the tragedies of Mary Shelley's background and her own origins. Only then can we begin to examine what the icon "Frankenstein" has become in today's society.
In the novel, Frankenstein, the author, Mary Shelley, draws the reader into the story by bringing life to the characters through detailed description and events. Shelly revealed her life through insight of her characters. She used her writings, as a form of psychotherapy, to release repressed emotions and experiences in her life, which included happiness, death, depression, fright, madness, guilt and regret. Little did she know that the science considered insane in the novel, is considered today as welcomed research and life saving procedures, just what the character Victor Frankenstein wanted to succeed in doing. Through the mad mind of Victor Frankenstein, or by the revenge of the monster, Mary Shelley shows the parallel between her
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, explores the monstrous and destructive affects of obsession, guilt, fate, and man’s attempt to control nature. Victor Frankenstein, the novel’s protagonist and antihero, attempts to transcend the barriers of scientific knowledge and application in creating a life. His determination in bringing to life a dead body consequently renders him ill, both mentally and physically. His endeavors alone consume all his time and effort until he becomes fixated on his success. The reason for his success is perhaps to be considered the greatest scientist ever known, but in his obsessive toil, he loses sight of the ethical motivation of science. His production would ultimately grieve him throughout his life, and the consequences of his undertaking would prove disastrous and deadly. Frankenstein illustrates the creation of a monster both literally and figuratively, and sheds light on the dangers of man’s desire to play God.
Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley, illustrates the trials including Victor Frankenstein's triumphs, a character who owned a lovely with memorable life experiences that shaped the independent college student he became. Despite Victor growing up in a welcoming setting, he struggled to find the intellectual purpose of acquiring a college education in his physical science interest to generate the likelihood of reviving a dead corpse with electricity to acquire the comfortability to feel like God. Mary Shelley used diction and imagery to convey shifts in mood that supported the plot of chapters one through five in Frankenstein to inundate the reader with the feelings the characters of the story were facing.
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley highlights on the experiences her characters undergo through the internal war of passion and responsibility. Victor Frankenstein lets his eagerness of knowledge and creating life get so out of hand that he fails to realize what the outcome of such a creature would affect humankind. Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, highlights on how Frankenstein’s passion of knowledge is what ultimately causes the decline of his health and the death of him and his loved ones.
“The desire of knowledge in excess caused men to fall” throughout history, in the modern day, and in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Francis Bacon). It has often been said that the quest for knowledge is dark and dangerous. Many people have lost their lives searching for answers to their questions. This quest is the focus of several of the characters in Frankenstein including Robert Walton, the creature, and Victor Frankenstein. Each of them are after different pieces of knowledge but all their adventures have the same misfortune. For this reason, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein serves as a warning to those who search for wisdom because the path often leads to misery and destruction.
Victor Frankenstein is ultimately successful in his endeavor to create life. This, however, does not stop the underlying theme of obsession. Shelley’s shift from Victor’s never-ending quest for knowledge is replaced with an obsession of secrecy. “I had worked har...
Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, has captured people’s attention since it was first written. People often wonder how much of Mary Shelley’s life is documented in her novel. From the theme of parental abandonment, to the theme of life and death in the novel, literary scholars have been able to find similarities between Frankenstein and Shelley’s life. The Journal of Religion and Health, the Journal of Analytical Psychology, and the Modern Psychoanalysis discuss the different connections between Shelley’s life and Frankenstein. Badalamenti, the author of “ Why did Mary Shelley Write Frankenstein?” in the Journal of Religion and Health, primarily discusses the connection between Victor
Education is a tool to advance an individual and a society; however, education can become a means to gain power when knowledge is used to exercise control over another. In Frankenstein, knowledge becomes the downfall of both Victor Frankenstein and the Monster. The novel explores the consequent power struggle between Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the contrast between intellectual and physical power. Finding themselves in mirroring journeys, Victor Frankenstein and the Monster are locked in a struggle for dominance. Through these two characters, Mary Shelley explores the consequences of an egotistical mindset and of using knowledge to exercise power over others.
...Frankenstein and the creature. The situations that each character experience are lessons about how seeking prohibited intelligence comes with extreme consequences. Frankenstein is a Gothic novel which means it involves the supernatural; however, because it contains religious qualities it is more appealing to the common people’s idea of knowledge. Mary Shelley achieves her goal of informing the audience that man should not seek or possess the level of knowledge that God acquires. One should learn from the situations present in the novel because life comes with an enormous amount of knowledge; going after the unknown is an act of rebellion against God.
Victor Frankenstein finds himself exploring the world of science against his fathers wishes but he has an impulse to go forward in his education through university. During this time any form of science was little in knowledge especially the chemistry which was Victors area if study. Victor pursues to go farther than the normal human limits of society. “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” (Chapter 4). He soon finds the answer he was looking for, the answer of life. He becomes obsessed with creating a human being. With his knowledge he believes it should be a perfe...