The Dangerous Nature Of Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The Dangerous Nature of Knowledge

“Learn from me… 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.” In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein searches for the secret to creating life and deals with the consequences that his discovery creates. Set in the 1700’s, the novel contains numerous overarching themes, discussing science, romanticism, revenge, and much more. One major theme prevalent in Frankenstein is the danger of knowledge and the possible repercussions of being aware of dangerous information. Shelley utilizes the main male characters of Robert Walton, the creature, and Victor

The creature, while physically intimidating and aesthetically revolting, is an intelligent and amiable creature, wishing to fit in with humans and truly find companionship. It is only when he learns of his origins and the fact that he will never fit in that he becomes the destructive and vindictive monster that most humans see him as. After reading the book Paradise Lost and drawing comparisons to himself and Adam from the Bible, the creature becomes angry with Victor about his lack of assistance from his creator: “He was allowed to converse with...beings of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless, and alone” (93-94). This knowledge that he is abandoned and has no companion lights the embers of envy inside the creature; now knowing how lacking his life was compared to others, he starts to resent Victor and all of humankind. Another large event and gain of knowledge causes the creature to become even more hateful to all humans. When rejected by the cottage residents, his knowing that he would never be accepted and would always be alone causes the creature to truly become a monster. He swears a personal vendetta against both Victor and all of humanity: “...from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me” (99). Knowing this fact almost completely destroys any remnants of him that

The first major repercussion of Frankenstein’s search for knowledge is the physical effects it has on him and his relationship to others: “I shunned my fellow-creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime. Sometimes I grew alarmed at the wreck I perceived that I had become” (35). His obsession with his work and his quest to create another being distracts him from any other part of his life; Frankenstein grows physically weak, contracts frequent fevers, and never contacts his family. His desire to succeed to gain obscure, never-before-found knowledge causes him to neglect all other aspects of his life. Another major consequence of Victor’s search for knowledge occurs when William is killed by the creature, and Justine is framed for the murder. Since Frankenstein created the creature, he feels ultimately responsible for both of these dreadful occurrences: “I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts” (61). These wrongful deaths and Frankenstein’s guilt stems from the creature, who is created because of Victor’s discovery of forbidden and dangerous knowledge. Finally, just before his death, Frankenstein discusses his misfortune with Walton and states that “I- I have lost everything, and cannot begin life anew” (14). He loses so much, including