Knowledge can be a good thing if we use it wisely and properly, but if you don’t use it wisely it may bring a harmless rumor or cause an awful consequence. In Frankenstein’s case knowledge was not a good thing. The novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, was an intriguing story with many comparisons of the great powers in life. It contains many themes of our society today. It contrasts science and literary, technology and human, life and death, but mainly it consisted of knowledge and ignorance. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley makes the theme evident with knowledge in the characters development. Reading the novel Frankenstein makes the word knowledge pop into your head throughout the text. The Webster’s dictionary defines the word knowledge as, …show more content…
In the letter he described his quest for knowledge to discover the native territory. “One man’s life or death was 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.” (Shelly 16) This showed that this was his main priority to achieve knowledge above life or death. Walton was willing to risk it all in the name of discovery just be recognized with the others who have done so. As the captain of the group, he was responsible for the lives of other men, he made a ruthless decision in his pursuit of knowledge and he endangered those men. He was blind to see this and he was obsessed at the thought of knowledge he failed to realize this or disregard the sacrifice. When Victor Frankenstein heard his goal of knowledge he was scared that Walton could get killed if he continued. Victor Frankenstein told Walton that, “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." (Shelly 17) Frankenstein gave him this message because he did not want him to end up like he did with his thirst for knowledge. Especially when Walton was going on a mission that could end his life and his crew. Frankenstein was thinking of his past mistake and how things would have …show more content…
The monster was made by an experiment by a smart scientist who immediately got scared and abandoned him. He was never properly taught how to survive or even interact with humans or was he taught right from wrong. He was created a man but had the mind of a child. He wanted to know all about the human life such as communication, feelings, behavior, and respect for one another. The only way he could learn this was to teach himself because everyone was scared of him. At first, he taught himself how to survive by collecting food and keeping himself warm with fires. He wanted more, he wanted to learn how to speak, read, and show feelings like the family he watched in the cottages. He wanted to communicate with humans but he needed to learn the basic knowledge of language. He said, “I ought not to make the attempt until I had first become master of their language, which knowledge might enable me to make them overlook the deformity of my figure, for with this also the contrast perpetually presented to my eyes had made me acquainted.” (Shelly Chp 12) eventually the monster did however accomplish the knowledge of language, but wishing to be more like humans costs the monster his happiness. The monster admired the humans beautiful physical features and their beautiful minds but was hurt by the sight of his ugliness when he saw his reflection in the water. Once he realized he was much different from humans the
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.
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.
Mary Shelley’s novel arises several questions relevant to the present day. A question that arises from the novel is whether man is born evil or made evil from his life experiences. The debate on whether how far man should pursue knowledge exists today as well as other questions challenged in the novel therefore “Frankenstein” is a popular novel at present as much as it was in the past.
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
Education is a tool to advance an individual and a society; however, education can become a means to gain power when knowledge is used to exercise control over another. In Frankenstein, knowledge becomes the downfall of both Victor Frankenstein and the Monster. The novel explores the consequent power struggle between Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the contrast between intellectual and physical power. Finding themselves in mirroring journeys, Victor Frankenstein and the Monster are locked in a struggle for dominance. Through these two characters, Mary Shelley explores the consequences of an egotistical mindset and of using knowledge to exercise power over others.
During the first four letters of Frankenstein, Walton's ambitions are revealed. He is on a journey and takes himself and his crew through treacherous conditions, and yet, he continues. His ambition causes him to disregard the possibility of death and the danger he is putting himself and others in in order to reach his goal. Unlike Victor though, Walton is able to save himself, all thanks to Victor himself. After spending some time with Walton on the ship, Victor realizes that Walton shares his ambitious nature. He asks him, “Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also from the intoxicating draught? Hear me; let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!” After telling him about the dangers of ambition, Victor tells Walton, “Farewell, Walton! Seek happiness and tranquility and avoid ambition, even it it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and
The desire of extensive knowledge is first seen through Victor Frankenstein. At the beginning of the novel, a young boy named Victor grows up in Geneva “deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge” (20). The way Victor sees it, the world is a secret which he yearns to discover. His fascination in the secrets of the world drive him to study natural philosophy and chemistry at the University of Ingolstadt. Victor begins to further study discoveries of ancient scientists and is not satisfied with their knowledge. He says, “..I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation, and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge” (24). Victor seeks to build upon previous discoveries and form new ones that go beyond the perimeter of mankind. Shelley shows how Victor’s obsession with knowledge of the unknown takes over his life and does not let anything or anyone stop him. Victor’s quest to overlook the natural limits of human knowledge brings about the creation of a monster that destroys his life and kills him. The monster he constructs does not reflect his o...
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.
Knowledge accompanied by wisdom, is a blessing. Knowledge helped scientists. make the most destructive weapon known to mankind, a nuclear bomb. It was lack of wisdom that caused United States of America to use it as a means of mass destruction, as illustrated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Knowledge not accompanied by wisdom, is a curse. Victor Frankenstein, protagonist in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, is awed by the science of chemistry and natural philosophy. His desire to gain knowledge leads him to research the secret of life, and after years of research, Victor is convinced he has discovered the meaning of life. With knowledge as his most powerful weapon, Victor embarks on a journey to create something extraordinary out of old body parts. One desperate night, Victor brings his creation to life. However, one glance at the creature was enough to make him realize that he had not created something beautiful, he created a monster. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein demonstrates how knowledge can be dangerous by the damage caused by both the monster and Victor.
In order to achieve his goals, Frankenstein put his life and the lives of others in jeopardy. He could have died at the hands of the monster and people he loved did die because of the monster. Frankenstein would have believed that Walton should have moved forward and done whatever it takes in order to achieve his goal because he risked everything in order to bring the monster to life. On the other hand, Shelley would view Walton as not being obedient to following his goal. In Frankenstein, the characters are “…killed by their very obedience to the role prescribed for them by the male patriarchal society, which robs them of any ability to save themselves” (Hermann, Baderoon, & Steenkamp, 123). If Walton achieved his goal of reaching the North Pole, he would have been killed. But, he was not obedient to his goal and turned around. This lead to Walton having the ability to save
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.
In the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, Knowledge is power for Victor Frankenstein. Mary Shelly explains that Dr. Frankenstein’s hunger for the knowledge to create life out of death only leads to Victor’s unfortunate monster. The consequences that Victor Frankenstein experiences from creating a creature from his own madness leads to his death as well as the creature. Mary Shelly explains in her novel Frankenstein that Victor’s need to study life and how it is created is dangerous; furthermore, the abomination that the doctor creates should have never been created; however, the monster that Victor creates is his own monstrosity.
She uses these references to show the relationship between God’s Adam and Frankenstein’s creature, and how nothing turns out as great as God’s creation. Mary Shelley’s goal is to teach a lesson on how destructive the desire for knowledge really is. Robert Walton, an Arctic explorer, demonstrates the idea of knowledge as “dangerous” through his letters to his sister. He shows determination while on his quest, but it is glory that he seeks the most. Walton states, “I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man”(8).
The theme pursuit of knowledge is consistent throughout the text, shown by three of the main characters in Frankenstein. The theme is shown in many different aspects by all three characters. The pursuit of knowledge lead to Victor’s destruction. The pursuit of knowledge lead Victor’s Creature to becoming aware of himself and point of view society has on him. The pursuit of knowledge helped Robert Walton realize his strive for success has lead him to discovering the consequences of his pursuit of knowledge can effect other people. Through the book Frankenstein the reader can infer that the pursuit of knowledge can lead to a destructive future.