Foreshadowing In Frankenstein

“You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been” (Shelley 15). In the novel Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, two characters pursue knowledge blindly; one of them in particular, Victor Frankenstein, pursues the knowledge in a Promethean sort of way, which causes him to experience many consequences. When one attempts to expand their knowledge blindly, many negative consequences can occur. Through the use of foreshadowing and characterization, Mary Shelley reveals the consequences that occur when blindly pursuing knowledge in order to benefit the human race.

Mary Shelley often foreshadows the consequences that

will occur when either of her characters attempt to pursue forbidden knowledge. When Frankenstein talks about how the human mind must preserve a sort of tranquil atmosphere, he knows that not even the pursuit of knowledge should interrupt that. “If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures… then that study is certainly not unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind” (Shelley 41). Frankenstein foreshadows the creation of the creature, and how this creation will utterly cause guilt in him, thus upsetting the peace and tranquility in his mind. When Walton talks to Victor about giving up everything in order to progress his enterprise he mentions that “One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought; for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race” (Shelley 13). The foreshadowing that occurs foreshadows Walton’s possible outcome for possessing such a mindset. Walton also does not care what must happen in order for him to gain the knowledge that he desires. Shelley uses foreshadowing heavily to show what can occur if someone blindly pursues knowledge.
Shelley also portrays the negative consequences of blindly pursuing knowledge through characterization.

Frankenstein thinks about his obsession with creating something that benefits all, and how he must acquire the knowledge to do so; he clearly explains how he feels about creating someone new. “No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through…” (Shelley 40). Victor becomes overwhelmed with excitement after he achieves the creation of his creature, but as the novel progresses he later on begins to express extreme guilt. Upon Frankenstein’s return home he knows his creation killed his brother, but a family friend will take the execution instead. “My own agitation and anguish was extreme during the whole trial” (Shelley 71). Frankenstein struggles completely with the fact that another innocent person will die due to his mistake. Whilst Walton talks to Victor, he mentions that he does not care if he dies in order to gain knowledge and achieve his goal. “One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought; for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race” (Shelley 13). Walton shows through characterization that he will do anything in order to keep pursuing the knowledge that he seeks. If he knows that he can die for pursuing the knowledge, then the knowledge he pursues certainly does not classify itself as permitted knowledge. Both Walton and Victor understand the risks that could occur if they pursue the forbidden knowledge that they seek, and through these understandings one can see their attributes, and what makes them who they

are.
Mary Shelley shows how the pursuit of forbidden knowledge in order to better mankind most often leads to many negative consequences. She shows this lesson by foreshadowing what will eventually occur when one attempts to pursue knowledge blindly, and she also uses characterization to show this concept by showing what lengths people will go to in order to achieve the knowledge that they seek, and how people will feel after attempting to gain the knowledge in which they seek.