Being “by birth a Genovese,” and belonging to “one of the most distinguished [families] of that republic”, coupled with his conceived omnipotence after creating life, Frankenstein believes he can predict other’s motives and solve problems single-handedly, betraying an excess of pride (14). For instance, Victor fails to register his own advice that he relates to Captain Walton, which expresses that “if the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and… destroy your taste for… simple pleasures… then that study is certainly unlawful… [and] not befitting [of] the human mind”(56). Instead, this character continues with his experiments, believing that adhering to this rule would cease human progress, and thus destroy his vision. As well, he neglects the guidance of his own family. When Victor is thirteen, he chances to find a volume of the works of a famous natural philosopher.
With this belief Victor is throwing away the idea of natural occurrences being good, and saying that his creation from dead pieces of various bodies can develop an elite being unimagined by GOD. Another place we see humanity distancing themselves from nature, is when Victor locks himself away from society to delve deeper into his scientific studies. He only sees what can be done with science, and because of this GOD whom is natural, became secondary to science. Science is a very common theme in both Brave New World and Frankenstein; the constant obsession with furthering progress and discovering the unknown led both the society in Brave New World and Victor in Frankenstein to leave natural occurrences behind and attempt to better themselves with
Frankenstein was being written in a time when philosophers and writers such as Rousseau and John Locke where developing their ideas on the human condition. Rousseau’s Theory of Natural Human, which acknowledged that morality was not a societal construct but rather “natural” and “innate”, is questioned throughout the novel. Shelley examines the effect of society and knowledge on the innate goodness of the Creature, suggesting that he has become the monster that Victor sees him as because of the unwillingness of his creator to accept him and nurture him. The idea that humans’ innate goodness is tainted and polluted by society is present when the Creature expresses that his “sorrow only increased with knowledge” and this “increase of knowledge only discovered to [him] more clearly what wretched outcast [he] was”. The relationship between Frankenstein and the Creature is also paralleled with that of Lucifer and God and this is shown when the Creature, a symbol of humankind, acknowledges that “I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed”, suggesting that had it been nurtured/educated, it would have become an
This ruthless pursuit of knowledge and glory proves hazardous as his attempt at being “God-like” and giving“life to an animal as complete and wonderful as a man” (shelley,pg.53) backfires. This is so as he is not only aware of the horror of his activities but that his “marvelous accomplishment” is only but a nuisance to society and would be frowned upon by fellow philosophers and humans. Robert Walton, like Victor also has a burning desire to “satiate his ardent curiosity” (3) and as such commits wholeheartedly to his studies from an early age, reading “nothing but Uncle Thomas’ books of voyages”(pg.8) in attempt tooutdo previous human explorations by endeavouring to discover a path to the north pole. Also, Walton’s pursuit of glory and honor eventually results in him finding himself in a fickle position as his ship becomes perilously trapped between pieces of ice. However, whereas Victor’s hatred for the monster and relentless will to kill it drives him to his death, Walton ultimately pulls back from his treacherous mission having learned from Victor’s example, how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be.
Derek Gibbins The Creature Completes Frankenstein Frankenstein, speaking of himself as a boy in his father’s home, points out that he believes he is nothing like Elizabeth. He decides to pursue the knowledge of the “world” through investigation and experience, while Elizabeth is more poetry oriented, if you will. As the novel progresses, it is clear that the meaning of the word “world” for Frankenstein is very close-minded. He is hungry for knowledge of the physical world and if he believes an idea is unrealized within society, he attempts to expand the idea in order to give it a better-known existence. He creates the creature, which he then rejects, because its physical body did not end up as he had imagined.
Although King Arthur achieved fame and stature through his incredible thinking abilities, Merlin truly gave rise to his greatness. Arthur’s journey starts when he goes on his first quest to find his brother and him, a tutor. Arthur was not born great and he was not great because he died. He faced many challenges and vanquished many evils in order to achieve his greatness as a king. Nothing lasts forever and as all things must come to an end so did Arthur’s reign; however, his untimely demise was a great tragedy for even Merlin could not predict the true gravity of the situation.
However, Blade runner has very limited amounts of nature and shows a industrialized and scientifically advanced society thus the distinctive differences between Frankenstein and blade runner reveal more about the connections between them. Fears in society will always alter as time progresses however. This idea is further exemplified through the symbolism of Tyrell’s oversized glasses. The fear that humanity is blind toward the danger of the ultimate extinction of any form of nature is expressed in Shelley’s novel thus blade runner mimics the fear and effectively becomes a warning toward this issue. Hence forth, both texts effectively delve into the negative connotations that could come of the obsessive pursuit of
Innocence and purity are tarnished when pride is introduced into oneʼs mind. Benjamin Disraeli supports this by stating “pride ruined the angels.” When people have pride they will go to extreme measures to remove the flaws that surround them; this leads to them losing the morality and naivete that once established their being. The novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, exemplifies the disintegration of integrity through her protagonist: Victor Frankenstein. At first, Victor was a pure and intelligent human who once held a great passion for science and wanted to pursue his dreams of creating life; however, once that goal was achieved, Victor isolated himself from his creation due to all its imperfections and the overwhelming feelings from failing himself thus diminishing his pride.
Neville always relied solely on science but his mind was so hopeful for companionship he overlooked his reasoning and let her inside his house. Ruth ended up being a new kind of mutated “vampire” which he knew could happen. The new kinds of vampires were able to walk in the sun. His overlooking of science cost him his life in the end. All of these situations are the result of his isolation and loneliness.
Pride in an accomplishment is the result of a completely sane endeavor. To lose ones mind in the process of ones ambition is the loss of any control or restraint. Victor Frankenstein felt this lack of restraint when crafting his creature; it was a block that shielded his psyche from true understanding of what he was doing. Victor failed in his ambitions because he was engrossed in the completion of his experiment. In his fervor, he failed to realize the outcome of his actions and did not immediately understand his own reaction to what he had done.