The Tree of Knowledge in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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The Tree of Knowledge in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley warns that with the advent of science,

natural philosophical questioning is not only futile, but dangerous.

In attempting to discover the mysteries of life, Frankenstein assumes

that he can act as God. He disrupts the natural order, and chaos

ensues.

Mary Shelley goes to great lengths to emphasize the beauty and order

of life when man engages in ìnaturalî pursuits. She idealizes

Frankenstein's home life: ìI feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on

the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mindî

(38). His family is orderly and wonderful. Clerval's ìpresence brought

back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home

so dear to my recollectionÖI felt suddenly, and for the first time

during many months, calm and serene joyî (58). Shelley also stresses

that man should feel at one with nature, not at odds with it: ìWhen

happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most

delightful sensationsî (68).

Certain occupations allow man to be at one with nature and his fellow

creatures. Shelley feels that science should be useful and beneficial

to mankind. Clerval, a clearly pure and benevolent character, studies

languages. He loves poetry. These disciplines allow man to help others

and glorify nature without questioning it. In childhood,

Frankenstein's studies contained ìbright visions of usefulnessî (38):

ìI betook myself to the mathematics, and the branches of study

appertaining to that science, as being built upon secure foundations,

and so worthy of considerationî (41).

But Frankenstein's interests soon turned away from mathematics; he

speaks of his change of mind as i...

... middle of paper ...

...gnorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!

Cease; you know not what it is you sayî (194)!

Frankenstein has finally learned his lesson. Or has he? After his

excruciating pains and hardship, Frankenstein's dying words are: ìI

have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeedî

(210). Unless Frankenstein is referring to beneficial, pragmatic

scientific knowledge, then he has not yet acknowledged that man cannot

know the secrets of nature. Shelley means his final words to be a

warning to the reader. Man's growing ambition and intellect will

render him desperate to discover the deepest mysteries of lifeóit is a

difficult task to halt this ambition. But this ambition is greater

than man's intellect. He can never know all, though he aspires to

heaven. Until he realizes his limitations, the spread of science can

only lead to chaos and destruction.

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