Comparing Science and Religion in Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Metropolis

2034 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Tension between religion and science

The Struggle Between Science and Religion in Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Metropolis

From Frankenstein to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to Metropolis, the mad scientist is one of the modern world's most instantly recognizable and entertaining cultural icons. Popular culture's fascination with demented doctors, crazed clinicians, and technologically fanatical fiends have dominated the major motifs of popular literature and film for most of the 20th century and this fascination will continue into the 21st century. An

archetypal outcast, the mad scientist represents all that modern culture holds mysterious and fascinating, intriguing and sinful, and, to say the least, romantic. Popular culture has completely desensitized the blasphemous, heretical, epileptic shocks of

tampering with "things that should not be tampered with" and has made them, instead, into common, everyday occurrences. The Romantic struggle between theology and science still wages today--only today's theology has become a religion of materialism and the worship of the monetary system; and through mass media this neo-theology has appealed to societies appetite and captivated an audience desirable by any deity.

When we think of 'Mad Science,' the modern, stereotypical, Hollywood vision of mad science floods the mind-of Dr. Frankenstein (Frankenstein); Dr. Jekyll (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde); and Rotwang (Metropolis); along with many others-and for good reason. Many of these characters we know by heart, either from literature, theater, or film, while many others we've hardly heard of and are thus marked mundane and

unimportant in our minds. Mad science is synonymous with 'the insane scientist' who blew up his lab, but is ecst...

... middle of paper ...

... science and symbolism pertaining to sex roles,

marriage, and the family. With the reformed tolerance and leniency of the 19th century, especially that of religion, the gateway was opened and the chaos that is modern horror was set free to terrorize the land.

Works Cited

Carroll, David , and Kyla Ward. "The Horror Timeline." <

http://www.tabula-rasa.info/DarkAges/> October 13, 2003.

Lovecraft, H.P. "H.P. Lovecraft Library." William Johns, 2002.

October 15, 2003.

Perkus, Aaron Keith. Mythos Journal No. 6: Myths of Science

and Technology: Dr. Jekyll Hyeding in the Garden of Eden.

October 15, 2003.

Skal, David J. Screams of Reason: mad science and modern

culture. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1998.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2003.

Show More
Related

  • Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, and Making a Difference

    2292 Words  | 5 Pages

    A firm and measurable commitment to excellence drives Principle 1, and Studer begins by defining excellence as a time when employees feel valued, physicians feel their patients are getting the best care, and patients feel the service and quality they receive are exceptional. Studer claims that a commitment to excellence positively impacts the b...

    Read More

  • Influence of Science and Religion on "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novella, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886. The author was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850. His family included engineers, scientists, a professor of philosophy, and a religious minister. The scientific and religious sides of Stevenson's family reflected in both his personal life and in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (disapproval between Dr Lanyon and Dr Jekyll). In 1859 Charles Darwin published his famous book called the ‘Origin of Species’ which highly opposed the religious beliefs at the time; the novella itself was also published at such a time when there was extreme controversy between religious and scientific principles. The sense of conflict being created through disapproval portrays duality that the Victorians had at the period; it is almost as if they were in a dilemma and confusion in deciding which element of sanity to maintain. Stevenson wrote the story to articulate his idea of the duality of human nature sharing the mixture good and evil that lies within every human being. In the novel Mr Hyde represents the evil ...

    Read More

  • Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley and Metropolis, by Fritz Lang

    1922 Words  | 4 Pages

    Literature and film have always held a strange relationship with the idea of technological progress. On one hand, with the advent of the printing press and the refinements of motion picture technology that are continuing to this day, both literature and film owe a great deal of their success to the technological advancements that bring them to widespread audiences. Yet certain films and works of literature have also never shied away from portraying the dangers that a lust for such progress can bring with it. The modern output of science-fiction novels and films found its genesis in speculative ponderings on the effect such progress could hold for the every day population, and just as often as not those speculations were damning. Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein and Fritz Lang's silent film Metropolis are two such works that hold great importance in the overall canon of science-fiction in that they are both seen as the first of their kind. It is often said that Mary Shelley, with her authorship of Frankenstein, gave birth to the science-fiction novel, breathing it into life as Frankenstein does his monster, and Lang's Metropolis is certainly a candidate for the first genuine science-fiction film (though a case can be made for Georges Méliès' 1902 film Le Voyage Dans la Lune, his film was barely fifteen minutes long whereas Lang's film, with its near three-hour original length and its blending of both ideas and stunning visuals, is much closer to what we now consider a modern science-fiction film). Yet though both works are separated by the medium with which they're presented, not to mention a period of over two-hundred years between their respective releases, they present a shared warning about the dangers that man's need fo...

    Read More

  • Ethical Uncertainties of Science in Frankestein by Mary Shelley

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley tests the motives and ethical uncertainties of the science in her time period. This is a consideration that has become more and more pertinent to our time, when we see modern scientists are venturing into what were previously unimaginable territories of science and nature, through the use of things like human cloning and genetic engineering. Through careful assessment, we can see how the novel illustrates both the potential dangers of these scientific advancements and the conflict between that and creationism.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Frankenstein And Never Let Me Go

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the beginning of time man has been infatuated with the idea of pushing the human body to its limits by the use of science. The Space program is the best example of science helping humans accomplish things never before thought possible. In the age of technology and scientific advancement ideas that once seemed like science fiction, for example people walking on the moon, are now a reality. In order to push human development, ethics and morals have been pushed to the side. Necessary evils have been accepted as part of science without a second thought. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, plays God by creating a monster out of body parts and bringing it to life. When Frankenstein realizes the full extent to what he’s done, he abandons the monster leaving it confused and lonely. The monster then

    Read More

  • Something for Everybody: Brooks’ Reasoning for Monsterism in Frankenstein

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like all works that have been taught in English classes, Frankenstein has been explicated and analyzed by students and teachers alike for much of the twentieth and all of the twenty-first century. Academia is correct for doing so because Frankenstein can appeal to the interests of students. Students, teachers and experts in the areas of medicine, psychology, and sociology can relevantly analyze Frankenstein in their respective fields. However, Peter Brooks explains in “Godlike Science/Unhallowed Arts: Language and Monstrosity in Frankenstein” that Shelly had presented the problem of “Monsterism” through her language. According to Brooks, Monsterism is explicitly and implicitly addressed in Shelly’s language. While this may be correct, Brooks does it in such a way that requires vast knowledge of subjects that many readers may not be knowledgeable in. After summarizing and analyzing the positive and negative qualities of Brooks’ work, I will explain how the connection of many different fields of study in literature creates a better work.

    Read More

  • Who Is the Real Monster in Frankenstein?

    1708 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Mary Shelley Challenges Society in Frankenstein

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brooks, P. "'Godlike Science/ Unhallowed Arts': Language, Nature,and Monstrosity". The Endurance of Frankenstein. Ed. George Levine. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Vistor Frankenstein and Henry Jekyll

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two horrific tales of science gone terribly wrong. Shelley?s novel eloquently tells the story of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living monster out of decomposed body parts, while Stevenson?s novel describes the account of one, Henry Jekyll, who creates a potion to bring out the pure evil side to himself. Although the two scientists differ in their initial response and action to their creations, there are strong similarities between their raging curiosity to surpass human limitation, as well as their lack of responsibility concerning their actions. These similarities raise an awareness of human limitation in the realm of science: the further the two scientists go in their experiments, the more trouble and pain they cause to themselves and to others.

    Read More

  • The Doppelgänger in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bond, Chris. "Frankenstein: is it really about the dangers of science? Chris Bond explores how

    Read More

  • Private Equity Importance

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    Starting and building a prosperous business is an ambition of many entrepreneurial minds and has for

    Read More

  • Analysis And Explanation Of Robots: An Analysis Of A Mobile Robot

    1955 Words  | 4 Pages

    So far, the main problem of all existing mobile devices, moving independently, without control by the person is navigation. To successfully navigate in space on-board system of the robot must be able to build the route, traffic control parameters (set the angle of rotation of the wheels and the speed of their rotation), to correctly interpret the information about the world, received from the sensors, and continuously monitor their own coordinates.

    Read More

  • For the love of Strangers

    1554 Words  | 4 Pages

    Neil Outwater, in the midst of his tenth year and about a year and a half away from entering high school had begged his mother to allow him to attend a public version where most of his friends would be going and not a private school. It was out of the question when it was first made the plea, but Esther reconsidered the choice. Her son was affable, with a persistent curiosity, he was well focused; an avid reader and certainly his musical aptitude indicated that he would do well in any school. She was home schooling him, but had come to realized it was probably the right time to put him into a structured social environment. The one in which he had been raised was focused only on him with a world consisting mainly of those nine rooms and his mother. She was fully aware of the protective bubble in which she had knowingly raised him.

    Read More

  • Humanoid Robotics

    1685 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is no definition of a robot that satisfies everybody. International standard ISO 8373 defines a "robot" as an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose, manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications. This definition works well for ISO's main concern, industrial robotics, but it doesn't really take care of other realms. Joseph Engelberger, a literal pioneer in industrial robotics, once said, "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one." Robots can also be defined in a different way. A robot can be described as a mechanical or virtual, artificial agent, where an agent is defined as one who exerts power, or one who has the power to act, and as some kind of automatic process which can communicate with other agents to perform some collective task on behalf of one or more humans. We can see how this definition fits industrial robots, CNC machine tools, hazardous location robots, and other mechatronic devices that help us in our daily lives. Everyone also has seen science fiction films where robots walk and talk like humans, make intelligent decisions based on infallible logic, and carry out tasks on their own volition. Until recently, this has been science fiction for the most part.

    Read More

  • Why English is Becoming a Global Language

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    English is fast becoming the dominant means by which the world is able to communicate. It is being referred to as the global language as it is seen as a common means for interaction between different countries. This new phenomena can be seen in a positive light because the use of English as a common language brings efficiency and greater understanding. Growth and development are not tolerant of differences and English becomes a means for international expansion. A global language is a world language that is spoken internationally which is learned by many people as a second language. A language becomes a global language by achieving a global status which is recognized all over the world. This essay will discuss to which extent English become the global language due to the fact that it is both easy to learn and superior to other languages.

    Read More

More about Comparing Science and Religion in Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Metropolis

Open Document