Will Durant, an American writer from 1935 to 1975, once said, “Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul”. This becomes the sad truth for many characters in Frankenstein, as the pursuit of knowledge takes over their lives. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, she introduces Victor Frankenstein, a self-declared cursed man who in pursuit of knowledge and fame, created a human superior to all others using dead body parts. Victor relays his tale to Robert Walton, a man with a similar pursuit, after his creation kills Victor’s family. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley conveys the dangers of knowledge through similarities between several character’s experiences, proving that although knowledge is a powerful tool, it has the ability …show more content…
to blind oneself from reality and often leads to sadness, rage, and even death. Victor Frankenstein became obsessed with knowledge, causing him to become blinded to the nature and consequences of his actions.
Victor’s obsession leads him down a dangerous path that caused his life to be ruined and shows the dangers knowledge can possess over one’s life. Victor became passionate in the building of the Creation, and lost himself in the process. When describing his experience to Robert Walton he states, “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation” (Shelley 43). Victor had become narrow-minded and solely focused on the making of the creation. The danger of knowledge is the potential to lose oneself in this example. Later in the novel, Victor advises Robert Walton against following down a similar path that he had went down, referencing the destruction that knowledge had caused in his life. Victor advises, “I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery. 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” (Shelley 39). Victor wishes to aid Walton in seeing the light, after Victor had lost everything, as in the aftermath of his creation, …show more content…
Victor recognizes the bliss in ignorance. Victor was forced to learn the dangerous effects of knowledge, and lost everything important to him. The Creation’s pursuit of knowledge proves to become harmful to him, causing sadness and anger to manifest in his soul. Once the Creation began to learn more about the way of the world from Paradise Lost, to the treatment he received, the Creation became filled with rage and discontent. The Creation is similar to Adam from Genesis as Victor’s notes resemble the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Unlike Adam, the Creation has no creator to aid his understanding of the newfound knowledge leading to an angry state. The Creation tells Victor in the mountains of Chamonix, that he had learned of the process Victor had grown through to make him, and it disgusted him. “`Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. `Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance” (Shelley 119). When the Creation was unaware of how he was constructed, he was not filled with sadness or rage. But, after learning more about his “birth”, the Creation begins to suffer from the dangers knowledge can bring into one’s life: sadness and rage. Similarly, once the Creation had begun his pursuit of knowledge, he found out how disgusting his appearance was soon after. Once the Creation views his ugliness for the first time, he becomes enlightened why humanity despises him and is filled with revenge against the society that rejects him for his looks. The Creation states, “I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted on me; I tried to dispell them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge” (Shelley 108). Upon seeing his reflection, the Creation is filled with rage for humanity, and concluded that appearances are the reason he has been rejected. Before the Creation had seen what he looks like, the Creation was in ignorance bliss of why he was hated. Through his pursuit of knowledge, the Creation becomes depressed and filled with hatred. Similarly to Adam from Genesis, the Creation gains knowledge through his creator. But unlike Adam, the Creation is alone in the world with no love to help him, making the knowledge he has acquired harm him instead of help. Robert Walton, who in the pursuit of knowledge and fame travels to the Arctic, learns from the experiences of Victor Frankenstein and the Creation.
This saves Walton’s life and the life of his crew from the dangers the pursuit of knowledge put him in. Walton had become blinded from his hopes and dreams of achieving fame from this pursuit of knowledge, causing him to endanger the lives of many. But after hearing both Victor and the Creation’s tale, Walton saves himself from the dangers knowledge can cause in one’s life. Robert Walton had become obsessed with his mission to the Arctic, and risks the life of his crew from his narrow-sighted behavior. Walton states in a letter to his sister Margaret, “We were immured in ice and should probably never escape; but they feared that if, as was possible, the ice should dissipate, and a free passage be opened, I should be rash enough to continue my voyage and lead them into fresh dangers after they might happily have surmounted this. They insisted, therefore, that I should engage with a solemn promise that if the vessel should be freed I would instantly direct my course southward” (Shelley 204). Walton’s crew, clear-minded of the fog that knowledge had caused in Walton’s mind, saw the dangers Walton’s actions were causing. Due to Walton’s pursuit of knowledge, his crew and his own life are in danger of death, showcasing one of the dangers of knowledge. Although Walton suffers from the same tunnel-vision regarding his pursuit of
knowledge and fame, from hearing Victor’s tale and the urging of his crew, Walton saves himself from the sadness, rage, and death that knowledge can cause. In another letter to his sister, Walton corresponds, “I had rather die than return shamefully--my purpose unfulfilled. Yet I fear such will be my fate; the men, unsupported by ideas of glory and honour, can never willingly continue to endure their present hardships” (Shelley 205). Walton still suffers from the desire to learn more and become famous, but after learning of Victor’s experience, saves himself from a similar fate. Walton is able to avoid death like Victor Frankenstein and his Creation suffered because Walton had gained an understanding that knowledge can cause one’s life to be ruined if not used properly from the stories of Victor and the Creation. In Allegiant, a novel by Veronica Roth in the Divergent Trilogy, she states at the end, “Knowledge is power. Power to do evil...or power to do good. Power itself is not evil. So knowledge itself is not evil”. Veronica Roth is conveying a similar point as Mary Shelley: that the pursuit of knowledge is not negative in itself, but if knowledge consumes one’s life and becomes an obsession, one will become blinded from reality and fall into a pit of sadness, rage, and possibly death.
In the world today there is a drive to evolve and improve life through science and its findings. When looking at the good of a society, the people have to decide when the line between right and wrong is drawn. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, she proves that the possession of knowledge can lead to destructive forces through Victor Frankenstein’s monster’s journey. The events that lead to Victor’s monster’s destructive path is when he comes into contact with the cottagers, he murders Victor’s brother, and runs away after destroying Victor’s life.
abandoned; this made him feel as if he was the only person with out no
In conclusion, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein shows readers how irresponsibility and the excessive need for knowledge can cause suffering among others as well as oneself. Victor never intends to cause such harm; however, he is not cautious and observant with his actions, which ultimately leads to his classification as a tragic hero. The desire to learn is most definitely a wonderful trait to have, as long as one’s knowledge doesn’t reach the extent that Victor Frankenstein’s unfortunately does.
Knowing how to read, write, and even tie your shoes may seem like the everyday norm to most, but for Victor Frankenstein’s creature, it is one of the leading causes of his destruction. Frankenstein is obsessed with the idea of creating a being superior to humans. However, when his creation turns into a murderous monster, he is quick to blame his relentless search for knowledge, but he is unable to see how his ignorance brought his downfall. In the Gothic novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the concept of knowledge being not only a blessing, but a curse is demonstrated through the creatures desire to learn, society’s lack of empathy for the creature, and Victor’s ignorance.
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?
1b. This quote is important, because it explains not only how humankind is easily unsatisfied, but also how-based on Victor’s reaction- knowledge can be dangerous. It relates to the story as a whole, because it shows how far humankind is willing to go, in order to accomplish things; take Frankenstein’s creation as an example. The author chose to write this, because it sort of establishes the reason as to why Frankenstein would go way too far, in his creations and experiments.
Victor Frankenstein’s scientific endeavor, Robert Walton’s search for the North Pole, and the creature’s kind heart but scary features creates this whole theme of dangerous knowledge. The search for knowledge is encouraged and at times pushed by others. In Frankenstein is shows quest can lead to too much knowledge and drive him or her to his fate.
In the gothic novel Frankenstein, humans have a bottomless, motivating, but often dangerous thirst for knowledge. This idea was clearly illustrated throughout the novel by Mary Shelley. The three main characters in the novel shared the thirst for knowledge that later led to their downfall. In the novel, knowledge is a huge theme that led to atrocious life for anyone that tried to gain it. Knowledge is hazardous; therefore, I support Dr. Frankenstein’s warning about knowledge being dangerous and that knowledge shouldn’t be gained.
Albert Einstein once said, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. So is a lot.” Einstein believes that there is a point where the acquisition of knowledge becomes dangerous for humans. Mary Shelley extensively explores the effect dangerous knowledge has on the characters in her book Frankenstein. Throughout the book, Frankenstein and the creature are corrupted by knowledge that changes their outlook on life.
...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.
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.
Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein cannot merely be read as a literary work of the early 19th century. It represents the workings of young Shelley's mind. Further, it represents the vast scientific discoveries of the time, combined with Mary Shelley's intuitive perception of science. She views science as a powerful entity, but also recognizes the dangers if uncontrolled. Shelley demonstrates this fear in the book as science drives Victor Frankenstein to create his monster. In the end, it is also his use of science that inevitably becomes his demise.
This novel is told from the first person point of view. George Walton begins narrating the story through his letter to his sister. After he rescues Victor from the ice and nurses him back to health, Victor begins to tell Walton his tale. As the story begins the perspective shifts from Walton's to Victor's point of view while still being told in first person. The first person narration really helps give the reader insight into the true state of the main character's mind, and it is indeed a dark place.
Victor was reared in a household where he had the proper environment to learn many things. His father was well-educated and encouraged Victor to further his knowledge. There was, however, one subject that he did not encourage Victor on; it was natural philosophy. Victor’s father told him not to waste his time on such trash. This remark fueled Victor’s curiosity and he studied further into it. At the age of 13, Victor “entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained [his] undivided attention”. This foreshadowed Victor’s biggest mistake of his life that was to happen later in his life. When he entered the university, Victor started his studies in great detail and intensity. His greatest ambition was this: he wanted to recreate life out of something which life had already parted. He “described [himself] as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature”.