Ethical Unsound Actions In Frankenstein By Mary Shelley

Society tends to believe that moral principles are what keeps it together. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, she portrays many ethical unsound actions that Victor finds himself into. Ethics can be defined as rules of behavior of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or society. One ethically unsound action Victor made was playing god by creating a artificial being. The second reason is when Victor encountered the creature and was selfish because he put his loved ones in danger. The final reason is how he didnt think of the consequences of his actions when creating a life.

Victor as many believe, plays god. Victor says, “A new species that would have blessed me as its creator and its source, many of the happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.” (Shelley,24) Victor has a dedication on creating life and even successfully attempts to renew life by creating an artificial being out of human corpses. He also states, “The teachers of this science have promised impossibilities, and they performed nothing. The modern masters...have acquired new almost unlimited powers.” (Shelley, 45,46) He is comparing science to god. Victor’s decision was very poor and an unethical choice because human beings are living creatures, we shouldn't play

god even after death.

Victor was a very selfish person and he put his loved ones in danger.

Victor says, “For the first time, I had felt what the duties of being a creator was, and that I ought to have rendered him happy before I complained of his wickedness. These motives had urged me to comply to his demand.”(Shelley, 116 ) Victor is saying how the creature wished for a companion and threatened him so he felt like he needed to help out the monster. Victor says, “I had knew a thousand fearful accidents that might occur, even the slightest that would have disclosed a tale to thrill it all had connected with me with horror.”(Shelley, 184) Victor made an unsound decision by not telling his loved ones in danger by being

selfish.

Victor doesnt think about the consequences of his actions. Victor creates life, when his creation comes to life it wasn't what he expected it to be. Victor states, “I had desired it with ardour that had far exceeded with moderation, now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream had vanished, breathless horror and disgust had filled my heart.”(Shelley, 59) He perceives that he has made a terrible solecism. Victor also says, “Mingled with this horror, I had felt the bitterness of disappointment.”(Shelley, 60) Human beings are flawed and capable of making mistakes but what makes this an unsound step of Victor and unethical is that he should have thought about his consequences.

In conclusion, throughout the course of the novel Victor lingers into the gray area between what is right and what is wrong. Victor’s decisions portray his questionable morals and ethics in which he is ultimately digging in his own grave. Victors egotistical personality and desire for scientific discovery lead to his own demise. All of his unsound actions had certain unethical paths. This all lead to Victor’s three most ethically unsound actions.