In the novel Frankenstein, written in the nineteenth century by the author of Mary Shelley.
She introduces the idea and effects of what human knowledge can have and how it may be dangerous to humanity. This novel is a great popular novel that reminds us to think of the issues involved with scientific research. This novel is a great example of the warning of the dangers we may be united with in today’s world. For example: “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.This was said on page 31 where Victor is warning Walton against following his example.
This quote also expresses the regrets Victor has towards his own knowledge. This represents how he would prefer to be less knowledgeable. It seems that Victor would prefer to be ignorant because it seems more blissful. Mary Shelley portrays that knowledge has the potential to go beyond the boundaries of the average human control. As the reader, I was able to grasp the idea that Victor Frankenstein had the immediate urge to explore the unknown in science.
As I recall this began to occur in his discussion with professor Walton through a letter.Once Walton suggests to Frankenstein that he looks to aim to go into the world where he can look for knowledge and Frankenstein insists that knowledge is worth as much as life and death. This is the first sense where foreshadowing took place that when Frankenstein said the words “One man’s life or death were 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. ” This quotes especially emphasis that victor will pursue this knowledge and has a great chance of risking his life and how his uncontrollable scientific knowledge ill greatly be affected by it. Victor expresses himself how he will be the one to create and achieve what no man has achieved before.
He holds this passionate, irresistible, completely out of control desire to expand and prove his knowledge of the unknown secret life. In the quote “So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. Foreshadows the fact that victor’s uncontrollable passion cannot be changed, and no one will convince him otherwise. This is also the chance for the reader to see that there is a great chance of horrific consequences to occur. Here is where Mary Shelley is beginning to introduce that the unknown knowledge should be set at some sort of limit.
Victor is the example of human beings taking advantage of the need for progress of the unknown. Victor’s life was destroyed because of his own obsession that he had accumulated with power when creating life, especially because it had not been done in the past.The monster, Victor’s creation, is a metaphor representing what has gone wrong in science and the selfishness that humans have today. Mary Shelley uses this novel to draw parallels in our modern society to show the danger and the non-relationship we have that science can create. She provides examples of how there are no connections between the scientists and their work. It seems as if she explains how science is done on the basis of discovery and only to be though of as an experimentation.
We in modern society do not consider the underlying danger everything may hold. No mortal could support the horror of that countenance.A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived. ” (35) Victor’s response was just this. He had sent all of this time and worked extremely hard on this creation, he finally crated something that wasn’t created before.
He brought life from the dead from sewing body parts together.Yet he never though of what the consequences may be, he was blindsided by knowledge. Victor is knowledgeable that his creature is ugly and never wonders what could come about as a result of this ugly creature. There is no though process of how the creature will feel from his oversize or his lack of beauty. Victor is a man who avoids the advice from his father and remains all wrapped up in his scientific knowledge. Shelley is emphasizing here how there was no thought process of negative impact victor may encounter with this monster, actually all the warning signs that were given were ignored.
In fact, Shelley had written this novel and provided us with the thought process to question ourselves to what kinds of scientific knowledge humans should posses and be able to use to their capabilities. For example scientists in our modern day life create nuclear weapons and power plants as they ignore the effect of radiation, costs, and sickness it causes all over the world. For our better sake we play with the genetics of animals and disregard what effects it will have and the outcomes.As people we do things to better our own lives and make them more convenient immediately but disregard the long-term effects it will have.
We are actually killing ourselves with some of the technology we have created, the most common thing I can think of is the use of a cell phone and how it may cause deadly cancer to our brains. The important message I perceived from this book by Mary Shelley is that in her story of Frankenstein that exploring the different world of science that are unknown by human beings has a greater possibility then we run in to consequences that un familiar to us.The quotes and passages that I have chosen are great instances where Mary Shelley shows her concern for the effects of science and technology and how it may result in the future victor Frankenstein provides evidence that knowledge is acceptable to progress but within limits. Shelley Strongly believes that there are areas where human comprehension should not be taken place.
Frankenstein’s need to explore the mystery of his creation was just one example of knowledge that should not be enganjed in. this message she is trying to portray should also be used in modern society through the views of possible negative consequences.
