The effect of acquiring knowledge is best summarized by Victor Frankenstein as “...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.” Knowledge, its acquirement, and application, is a major theme in Shelly’s Frankenstein. It is through gaining knowledge and applying it to one’s life that characters develop and move the plot. However, acting upon gained knowledge is shown to lead to detrimental and severe consequences for the characters. These consequences lead to the demise of those who gained the knowledge, and other secondary characters in the novel. In Shelly’s Frankenstein, acquiring knowledge and …show more content…
acting from it leads to negative consequences and therefore has a negative effect on Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the creature. Robert Walton is a classic example of a character in the Romantic literary period because he exerts a thirst for knowledge and exploring the unknown. Walton is self-taught from his uncle’s numerous books and has expressed interests in poetry, mathematics, and anatomy. He is lonely and yearns for companionship from someone who will stimulate and inspire his mind, and who will share the same goals and interests as him: “I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me; whose eyes would reply to mine... I have no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans.” (4) Walton’s search for knowledge has a negative impact upon him because it further isolates and alienates him from the sailors who have accompanied him during his voyages by pursuing it ardently: “But it is a still greater evil to me that I am self educated... I perceived the necessity of becoming acquainted with more languages than that of my native country... And am in reality more illiterate than many schoolboys of fifteen.” (4) Furthermore, Walton understands the danger of acting upon gained knowledge after the crew of his ship asked to return to England once the ship became free from the ice once again: “The die is cast; I have consented to return if we are not destroyed. Thus are my hopes blasted my cowardice and indecision; I come back ignorant and disappointed. It requires more philosophy than I possess to bear this injustice with patience.” (191) Although disappointed with his decision to abandon his expedition, Walton understands and realizes that the safety of him and his crew is more important than exploring the unexplored and potentially dangerous. It is here that he acts morally and justly. Walton is shown to have developed by understanding the danger of acting upon gained knowledge through experiencing its negative consequences, and by abandoning his quest for exploration for the safety of others, effectively showing that he has learned the lesson. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein has been inflicted by the danger of applying acquired knowledge. Victor Frankenstein is a character who is extremely curious and passionate about learning and exploring.
He would study pseudo-science subjects such as galvanism and alchemy as a teenager before focusing on chemistry at the University of Ingoldstadt: “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or, in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.” (23) The choice of words used in this quote are interesting, specifically “secrets”, because it lends a perspective into the lack of familiarity of the branches of science such as galvanism and alchemy. The use of the word “secret” implies that the contents of these pseudo-science subjects are abnormal and secluded by the present day field of science. The knowledge to be gained in these subjects are therefore taboo and off limits. However, Frankenstein is still inspired to raise the dead to life and continues on with his goal even though his goal is considered taboo: “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.” (38-39) Here, Frankenstein is shown to have a God Complex because he believes that he is infallible and a creator of life to a species. Furthermore, …show more content…
it is an allusion to the Prometheus tale where fire was stolen from the Gods without permission and used to give life. Frankenstein is affected negatively because continuing his goal of raising the dead to life has instilled a cocky and arrogant attitude in him. By applying his knowledge through raising the dead to life, Frankenstein locks the tragic fate of him, his family, and friends. It also highlights his hope that this creation will lay way for more successes later in life where others will respect and thank him. Frankenstein’s appetite for knowledge and how he acts upon this knowledge is shown to have negative consequences on him as shown through the delusion of having a God Complex. He is aware of the danger in knowledge when applied as shown through him willingly studying taboo pseudo-science subjects. Knowledge, and the danger it poses, is also present in Frankenstein’s creation. The creature is similar to that of a newborn baby in its creation.
The creature is born innocent, ignorant, curious, and essentially good. It is through acquiring knowledge that the creature begins to understand its place in a human society: “Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” (101) It is after learning about the unit the unit of a family, having friends, having worth through property money, for example, that the creature realizes his place as an outlier in human society. He will forever be alienated ad persecuted because of his physical appearance which greatly differ from that of human beings, and he inescapable prejudice and bias humans will judge it with. Learning of this leads to the creature's hatred and a desire for revenge towards all humans which results in the destruction of property and the conscious murders of several humans. Furthermore, it is only through learning of the death of Frankenstein, its father, does the creature fully understand the full effect it had on Frankenstein: "That is also my victim! In his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close! Oh Frankenstein! Generous and self-devoted being! What does it avail that I now as thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me." (194) Unable to receive Frankenstein's grace and pardon for the sins committed against him,
the creature decides to kill himself. It cannot deal with its sins and life without its father, Frankenstein. Learning of Frankenstein's death leads to the creature's presumed suicide. It is therefore evident that the creature has understood the dangers possible if one applies knowledge learnt to real life as shown through his actions after learning of his place as an eternal outlier in society, and how is revenge has resulted in the death of the only person whom the creature needed love and affection from. It is ironic that having ambitions and seeking to learn to act to achieve ambitions may cause so much damage to not only one self but to those around us. In the case of Robert Walton, and the creature, both have understood and realized the potential for evil in acting upon knowledge gained. Frankenstein, on the other hand has not understood the potential for evil in acting upon knowledge gained. He remains ignorant and irresponsible up to his death. Knowledge is something which neither has a positive or negative effect, but is something which may be used for good or exploited for evil intentions. By understanding the detrimental effect that applying knowledge can have, one may become responsible and aware of how powerful our thoughts, words, and actions are, and more so, how powerful internal and external factors that influence how we think, communicate, and act are. It is here that we may live better lives as better people.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein explores the downfall of certain human characteristics, set to the backdrop of creation, destruction, and preservation. The subtitle denoted by Shelly herself supports this idea, by relating the fact that the title can be viewed as either Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. One scholar, Marilyn Butler, also maintains this by noting, "It can be a late version of the Faust Myth"(302). Shelly uses the story of the main character, Victor Frankenstein, to produce the concept of a dooming human characteristic of which Frankenstein states, "I have . . . been blasted in these hopes"(Shelley, 152). The reader finds, as a result of his thirst for knowledge and infatuation with science, Victor creates a living being by whom he has "suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes"(Shelley, 17). Eventually, Victor realizes this self-destructive trait, but he is not able to save himself stating, "I have lost everything, and cannot begin life anew"(Shelley, 16). Although everything in his life that is dear has been lost, Victor is able to convince one in his same position--Robert Walton--to not "lead [his crew] unwillingly to danger"(Shelley, 151). While addressing the concept of characteristic and self-discovery, it is possible to realize that the monster also possesses the characteristics held by both Victor and Walton; except in his learning, the monster is driven to continue to cause destruction. Most important about the thirst for knowledge is that, as a form of human characteristic or downfall, it leads to large, critical pieces of self-discovery. In obtaining these critical pieces, Frankenstein finds satisfaction in j...
The creature displays his hatred toward Frankenstein for leaving him immediately and not providing guidance and protection in this harsh, new world by murdering his family and friends. While seeking his creator, the creature first murders Victor Frankenstein’s youngest brother William and exclaims, “I too can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him” (Shelley 144). The creature wishes for Victor Frankenstein to suffer taking his own companions away, forcing him to be miserable as well by destroying his personal relationships with others by murdering loved ones. Through the rejection of the creature because of his physical appearance, he learns what is accepted as well as how you can treat another being as he succumbs to his anger and proceeds with his crimes. The creature tells Frankenstein, “your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish your happiness forever.
The creature was created with the intention of goodness and purity but because of this, he wasn’t equipped to deal with the rejection of his creator. After Victor Frankenstein’s death, Robert Walton walks in to see the creature standing over his friend’s lifeless body.
The Creature was born capable of thing such as love and sympathy though he lost these capabilities as a result of how he was treated. The creature’s heart was ‘fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy’ but wrenched with misery to ‘vice and hatred’. On a cold night in November, Victor Frankenstein brought his creation to life. This creation has thin black lips, inhuman eyes, and
Humankind is unable to see that in the beginning, the creature is innately good. Also, society’s ability to make a judgement without substantial amounts of knowledge drove the creature further towards self destruction. For instance, when the creature saves a little girl from drowning, he does not receive the praises that would normally be expected. Instead, the creature is shot, and “inflamed by pain, [he] vow[s] eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind” (Shelley 143). When the creature first gains awareness, it is not yet corrupted by the ills that society forces on him. However, society is making the generalization that ugly is equivalent to evil, which causes the creature to see himself as evil. Rosemary Jackson acknowledges that “naming the double [creature] is impossible for Frankenstein and society since it is themselves in alienated form, an image of themselves before they acquired names”(Jackson). In other words, the creature is an outsider because its name is unknown to society. Society not giving the creature a name, but referring to him as a “monster, ugly wretch [and] an ogre” it is telling the creature that he is wicked because they are associating his appearance with things that society sees as evil (Shelley 144). Thus, the creature realizes that he must be malicious because he does not have a name to define
Victor Frankenstein, blinded by pride, remained unaware of how his experiment would affect not only him, but the world around him as he formed his new discovery. His secret to creating life only caused more life to be lost. Because of Victor’s reckless behavior, he caused the depressed and lonely world around his own creation, one who, in the end, Victor did not want to take responsibility for making, no matter how remarkable. The Creation, a being of unfortunate circumstance, exemplifies how knowledge has dangerous and everlasting effects if not used safely or for good intentions. Unfortunately, The Creation leaves his own damage behind as well, again showing how knowledge is harmful, by killing Elizabeth, Victor’s wife, Henry Clerval, his dearest friend, and other members a part of Victor’s family and friends. This demonstrates how knowledge, if not used wisely, can lead to death and suffering. The power of knowledge, in Mary Shelley’s writing, is a gift bestowed on those who can handle the power responsibly, as opposed to using it for selfish boasting. In contrast, she uses these two characters to show the importance of being knowledgeable in both science and responsibility and the unforgivable mutilation that comes if you fail to overcome
Mary Shelley brings about both the positive and negative aspects of knowledge through her characters in Frankenstein. The use of knowledge usually has many benefits, but here Shelley illustrates how seeking knowledge beyond its limits takes away from the natural pleasures of known knowledge. She suggests that knowledge without mortality and uncontrolled passions will lead to destruction. Victor and his monster experience this destruction following their desires and losing self control. Walton, on the other hand, becomes of aware of the consequences and is able to turn back before it’s too late. Shelley also suggests that without enjoying the natural pleasures of life, pursuing knowledge is limited, but how can knowledge be limited if it is infinite?
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...
In the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, Knowledge is power for Victor Frankenstein. Mary Shelly explains that Dr. Frankenstein’s hunger for the knowledge to create life out of death only leads to Victor’s unfortunate monster. The consequences that Victor Frankenstein experiences from creating a creature from his own madness leads to his death as well as the creature. Mary Shelly explains in her novel Frankenstein that Victor’s need to study life and how it is created is dangerous; furthermore, the abomination that the doctor creates should have never been created; however, the monster that Victor creates is his own monstrosity.
By definition, knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association (Merriam-Webster.com). In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley considers knowledge as a “dangerous” factor. The danger of it is proved throughout the actions of the characters Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the creature. The characters all embody the theme of knowledge in different ways. Shelley supports her opinion about knowledge by using references from the Bible and Paradise Lost. She uses these references to show the relationship between God’s Adam and Frankenstein’s creature, and how nothing turns out as great as God’s creation. Mary Shelley’s goal is to teach a lesson on how destructive the desire for knowledge really is.
knowledge is found at the heart of the novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley constructs her novel in a form of tripartite that consists of three speakers Victor, Victor’s Creature, and Robert Walton. The pursuit of knowledge is conveyed by the alluring antagonist Victor in his endeavor to go beyond human adeptness and discover the elixir of life. The pursuit of knowledge is shown through another character, Frankenstein’s Creature whose pursuit of knowledge prompts him to become aware of himself. Robert Walton through the pursuit of knowledge learns that his own strive for success leads him to learning that his selfish pursuits are effecting the people around him. The pursuit of knowledge is proved to be dangerous to all three speakers Victor, Victor’s Creature, and Robert Walton and all three prove to the reader how destructive knowledge can be.
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.
Victor Frankenstein proves his ability of holding ultimate knowledge by creating life, but as a whole, the society shows a greater impact over others. The Creature 's physical strength plays a vital role in the novel as well. Through the Creature’s many murders, he showed his strength and mental drive to accomplish the things he wanted. The desire for power plays a vital role within the novel, pushing the characters to act out in either a positive or negative manner. Victor Frankenstein, the Creature, and the society all show a different type of influence over others within the novel, creating different desires of
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.
... The creature only wants to be accepted into society as a man, or successful creation, accepts the fact that he is a monster after every attempt to integrate himself into society fails miserably. The creation of Frankenstein, who was supposed to be the first of many in his new species, was never accepted into society and was left to lead his life alone. His many attempts to tie himself into society and begin living his life as Adam were ignored by others. As a result, the creature took on a life as Satan, a monster, determined to physically harm mankind as retribution for the enormous agony and misery it had placed on his own life.