The Prevention of Disaster Theme in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Shelley’s Frankenstein can be considered as one of the first representations of a possible apocalypse that is now ubiquitous, humans will someday create something that will destroy mankind. In different works, this Armageddon takes various forms: in the iconic movie The Matrix man-made machines enslave the human race, while in another popular movie I Am Legend, a genetically engineered virus mutates and kills the vast majority of the world’s population. Frankenstein, however, is not intended to give the reader an impending sense of doom, instead it warns about the consequences of creating something, no matter the intent behind its creation, without exercising proper caution.

In both the previously mentioned films and also in Frankenstein, there are good motives for the creation of the destroyer. In The Matrix, robots are the logical evolution of today’s computers, in I Am Legend, the virus is created to cure cancer. However, there is an old adage: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Shelley confirms this concept many times over in Frankenstein. By giving Frankenstein reasons to try to create life–the death of his mother at an early age, the disdain of his professor, and Frankenstein’s desire to prove himself–Shelley inspires empathy towards Frankenstein. When Frankenstein is eventually brought to ruin by his creation, Shelley implies an important message: no matter the benevolence behind someone’s intentions, the result of his efforts can become catastrophic, only proper caution will prevent disaster.

The writer notes the importance of caution, and the irrelevance of intent, from several perspectives. For example, the monster attempts to befriend Monsieur De Lacey–intent on simply making a friend–but fails due to ...

... middle of paper ...

...rk. He contemplates to himself, “I was now about to form another being, of whose disposition I was ignorant, she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her mate, and delight, for its own sake, in murder and wretchedness” (170). He realizes that this monster is likely to become just as malevolent as the previous one, and with that thought in mind he proceeds to destroy it. Consequently, the world is saved from having to deal with another daemon, perhaps even a race of daemons, and humankind survives.

Therein lies the difference between Frankenstein and the typical apocalypse-esque movie. Frankenstein is cautious when he builds the second monster, he knows that it could wreak havoc upon society, he destroys it, and humankind is saved. Through Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s opinion is clear: by simply taking the time to be cautious, one can prevent disaster.