Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the idea that knowledge can grow to become dangerous is prominent throughout. In this story, the search for learning and the desire for knowledge strongly impacts three main characters. Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and the creature all fall into the hands of which the consequences of knowledge hold and suffer terribly due to its repercussions. In this novel, Victor warns Robert that acquiring knowledge can lead to “destruction and infallible misery” (Shelley 31) and as the book evolves, this statement is found to both true and detrimental. Victor Frankenstein is an example of a character who finds himself exploring the world of science and learning about all the things it has to hold. Even at a young

He acquires the knowledge needed in order to become a real human being whilst staying with the DeLacey family who teaches him “the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues and to deprecate the vices of mankind” (Shelley 90). Although his efforts were duly noted, his attempts failed miserably when the power to read led him to Victor’s journal that consisted of his thoughts on the “monster so hideous” (Shelley 93). His failure to assimilate into society and gain the knowledge to read and understand, turns him into a vengeful, hurtful, and violent being which in turn, results in the death of several people Victor cares about. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, it is presented to the readers that being overly ambitious can lead to dire consequences and ignorance is bliss. Knowledge comes across as a very attractive quality due to the fact that with intelligence comes improvement and success, both of which are highly appealing characteristics. As humans, we strive to better ourselves in the hopes that we will one day equate to greatness. Knowledge is a great value however, as exemplified in this book, the quest to finding intelligence can lead one to deadly