The Limits Of Knowledge In Frankenstein

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Mary Shelley’s romantic fiction novel Frankenstein explores the limits of knowledge and creation. The ambition to acquire knowledge through self-pursuit as well as self-education is illustrated through three essential characters: Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the Creature. Robert Walton, an ambitious explorer, is on an expedition to discover the “country of eternal light” (Shelley 13). {transition word} Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with his education and then with his project to create a living being through science and technology. He brings the Creature to life, who teaches himself human behavior by observing the daily lives of some cottagers, later known as the De Laceys, as well as through reading a series of books. As the Creature becomes more aware of his situation he becomes vengeful towards Victor for rejecting and …show more content…

Victor and his creature continuously try to punish each other for the wrongs that have happened in their lives. One critic states, “Frankenstein and the daemon are the two halves of the same being, divided against itself” (Bloom par. 2). Although there seems to be a constant push and pull between the Creature and Frankenstein as they alternate between being the antagonist and protagonist, they both follow the same wretched path. Additionally, though Victor does not take on the role of being a positive and nurturing role model to the Creature, the Creature has a similar ambition to learn, grow, and develop just like his creator Victor. Furthermore, after numerous, direct and indirect, encounters with each other, it becomes evident that both the Creature and Frankenstein have the same motivation towards each other. The conflicts created between the Creature and Victor illuminate the numerous similarities in their educational successes, ambitious mindsets, and tragic

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