Mary Shelley demonstrates this concept through Victor’s pursuit for knowledge, caused by the change of values between the Romantic Era and the Age of Enlightenment. As electricity was discovered, Victor’s admiration for the subject of Galvanism provides him a “thirst for knowledge”, reinforced by his “longing to penetrate the secrets of nature”. This sexual allusion emphasises Victor’s loss of Romantic values which ultimately leads to an extremely arrogant attitude where he “bestows animation upon lifeless matter” and creates the “hideously deformed” monster that metaphorically represents the greed that blinds him. Its horrific actions, namely the killing of people closest to Victor, force him to finally realize that they “died by my hands”. Thus, Shelley warns that the destructiveness of Man’s intrinsic desires for knowledge stems from the change in values.
Shelley draws from the characteristics of gothic fiction influenced by The Romantic Movement, through employing sinister connotations that forebode Victor’s downfall, “…the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out…” This portrays the reality that the value of creating life is unattainable, which is furthermore explored in Blade Runner, as Scott presents a world in which technology has eliminated the defining features of humanity. Shelley also alludes to The Promethean Myth and the symbolism of oppressing fire, “…the glimmer of the half-extinguished light…” to emphasise the danger of attaining knowledge beyond accepted boundaries. Shelley’s admonition of excessive knowledge is explored additionally within Blade Runner. Blade Runner is dominated by capitalism and social hierarchy, therefore mirroring the values of the 18th century context of Frankenstein. Scott, influenced by the gothic-novel features in Frankenstein, has employed the style of
His desire for power, glory and wealth blinds him to the consequences. By looking at Tyrell, we are given a clearer understanding that, what Shelley’s character, Victor is doing is also wrong. It highlights the significance of Frankenstein’s blindness to
It keeps posing questions such as, “What does it mean to be a monster” or “What does it mean to be human?”. The irony in Blade Runner is the blade runners (supposedly humans) act in an inhumane manner, “retiring” replicants due to their developments of human characteristics. Where as Roy (a replicant) performs a great act of mercy, sparing Deckard’s life. Roy appears “…more human than human…” (Tyrell Corporations motto) in his empathy and compassion. While in Frankenstein the creature’s fate is chosen with his appearance and societies prejudice.
'The Values of each age are reflected in the texts which are composed in them.' To what extent is this statement true in Frankenstein and Blade Runner? To an extent, a text may reflect the contextual values of the composer and the era of its composition. The text may not only reflect these values, but also challenge, mirror or subvert the ideologies of dominant figures within their respective time periods. Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein,' an epistolary Romantic novel inspired by elements of the Promethean myth, and Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner,' a science fiction film known for its promotion of film/tech noir elements are two texts which have come to challenge the dominant paradigms of their time.
The combination of these two techniques establishes the point in which Shelly has made that Victor was doing something beneficial for the world. This perspective on his project changes once the monster is created through the use of technology. This is shown when Victor says “Never will I create someone like you equal in deformity and wickedness.” Shelly’s use of first person once again evokes a connection with the reader whilst the use of the nouns “deformity” and “wickedness” allow the reader to feel that Frankenstein regrets his actions. Thus, as Victor’s perspective on technology changes the reader’s perspective does as well. Shelly does this to warn against industrialization.
Shelley evidences this theme through Victor stealing the Gods gift of life, alluding to Prometheus stealing the Gods gift of fire, epitomised in Victors dialogue “A new species would bless me as its creator”. ( can also add from here the domino effect/ notes taken from book, consequences of playing God) Victor becomes a lost soul when he tries his ghastly experiments on the dead and loses his moral compass when he becomes obsessed with animating the dead. Victor's overindulgence in science takes away his humanity, and he is left with the consequences of these actions without having reasoned out the reality that his experiments may not have the desired effects. (can also talk about loss of parental duty/abondment) Rejecting and not naming his invention makes the reader feel a sense of prejudice against the monster as it is given titles such as the ‘monster’ or ‘creature’, words that linger on a negative aspect. This initial reaction of Victor was an indirect means of Shelley showing how humans would react to side effects or catastrophes caused by scientific
The reaction of Victor changes the role between him and Frankenstein, making Victor the monster. The way Mary Shelley has done this has shown a contrast change in character roles. There is a sense of irony as Victor is regarded as the monster in chapter 5 instead of Frankenstein. Their roles have changed as Victor is classed a monster but there is still a strong sense of sympathy towards Frankenstein. “The beauty of the dream vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” As the reader acknowledges this it give a nauseating impression towards Victor, but also a shocking undisguised impression of hatred.
Throughout the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley defines morality based on a nature and nurture of ones and it plays relevant role on a person life. Shelley explains sometimes a mankind’s morality can be bad and she mentions it through her the characters Victor Frankenstein, the creature and Robert Walden. Frankenstein’s great desire of creating life endanger his family and goes against nature, his careless disregard for a naïve creature turns it into vicious exterminator and Walden’s unachievable fantasy of finding north pole put his crew in deadly
Since the time Francis Galton coined the term “Nature vs. Nurture” there has been theories and debates about each side. The debate is focused around the determining or causing factors of the differences in physical and behavioral traits within a human. Nature takes the role of the individual’s innate qualities while nurture bases itself upon personal experiences. Romantic literature is characterized by an emphasis on emotion, passion, and the natural world and gothic novels liked to play with the dark side of human nature and frailty. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein shows elements of both aforementioned and woefully shows humans in nature and human nature.