Victor’s curiosity led him to creating the monster. There weren’t many people who accepted the idea of galvanism and things of the like in Frankenstein’s day. “On this occasion a man of great research in natural philosophy was with us, and, excited by this catastrophe, he entered on the explanation of a theory which he had formed on the subject of electricity and galvanism.” (Shelley, page 37). This quote illustrates that Victor is becoming more involved and studying more about creating life. I can’t imagine being seventeen or eighteen and thinking about how to bring something you have created from the dead.
In what ways does the novel present knowledge as dangerous and destructive? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is our culture’s most piercing literary analysis of the psychology of modern science, of the dangers exposed in scientific research, and of the horrifying but predictable consequences of an uncontrolled technological exploitation of nature. In Frankenstein, Shelley turns a skeptical eye on the Enlightenment celebration of science and technology and the urge for divinity. In a search for knowledge and uncharted land, Walton departed for the sea. Like Frankenstein, Walton is driven far afield by the heady Romantic ideal of “a thousand celestial observations”.
In the novel Frankenstein, author Marry Shelley depicts character Victor Frankenstein as a scientist with a strong passion for forbidden knowledge and finding the answers to life through science. Though his intentions are good this leads him to the creation of a monster. Throughout the novel Frankenstein is constantly encountered by obstacles that test his passions for science and responsibility for his creation. For Victor it seems that the choice to abandon the monster is the easier path, rather than taking care of his creation. In the beginning of the book, right after the creation of the monster, Victor fled his home to get away from the creature, only to return and find that it had escaped.
When Frankenstein collects the ‘instruments of life’ around him it would have shocked the readers of the time; this suggests that he had body parts in his home - this would certainly create suspense and tension. What will he do with them parts? Why has he got human parts to begin with? The general genre which the opening is suggesting, so far is horror. She also cleverly uses the weather and surrounding to mould the correct atmosphere, which influences our views on whatever aspect she concentrates on.
The creature has infinite potential, but it is Frankenstein’s prideful nature and negligence that makes the creature become “monstrous”. Frankenstein’s selfish pride stems from his unbridled curiosity and obsession. Frankenstein’s curiosity was first aroused as a child after he read a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa (Shelley 39; ch. 2). When Frankenstein’s father explains to him why he shouldn’t continue to waste his time on the reading the book, Frankenstein instead defies his father’s wishes and continues to “read with the greatest avidity” (Shelley 40; ch.
The monster is introduced to the reader from Victors point of view. This is a technique to influence the readers reaction since we already have our opinions on Victor Frankenstein due to previous events in the novel but later when the narration switches to Frankensteins monsters we read the story from a different perspective and learn that Victor is not a good man at all. The reader is also given a positive image of Victor Frankenstein. One of the first things we read is Robert Waltons opinions of him and from this we know that Walton saw him as a very successful, respected and good man. From the start of Victors narration, we are shown his character in a good light through the account of his childhood - "I, their eldest child, their plaything and their idol, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by Heaven" We see from this quote that he's painting the picture that he is from Heaven, that he's such a good man who is of high importance.
While in the process of creating the monster, Frankenstein is both completely obsessed with his project, and, does not consider the consequences before it is alive. As soon as he becomes “capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter,” (53) Frankenstein explains how it “was the most gratifying consummation… to arrive at the summit of [his] desires” (53). Immediately, he begins work, and “[seemed] to have lost all [of his] soul or sensation but for this one pursuit” (55). Frankenstein “could not tear [his] thoughts from [his] employment” (56) and “pursued [his] undertaking with remitting ardor” (55). Even though Frankenstein feels that his “human nature [did] turn with loathing from [his] occupation” (55) as he is creating the being, he continues on with an “unnatural stimulus” (55).
The ending of the story, when Victor almost chases to monster to the north pole, is also a glimmering example of how Victor has changed internally from a Geneva, to a cold, harsh, inhuman monster. The main characters, Victor and the monster, are both interesting mixes of good, as well as evil. Victor, on the one hand, is good in the sense that he wants to understand science to further humanity. He does have an ugly side, however. For example, Victor abandons his monster after he creates it because he realizes what he has done.
In another one of Margaret Cheney’s novels, Man out of Time, She explains that his schedule often gave the impression that there was more than one of him. His days and nights blended together because he would rarely close his eyes to sleep (194). Nikola’s obsession with invention never faded even as he advanced in age, he spent all of his time trying to create his death ray before he died (Thomas). Even on Nikola’s 78th birthday he was still in his lab working (“Inventor”). He only stopped working because
When one thinks of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the concepts of knowledge and science are deeply inscribed in the mind. In her work, Mary Shelley tells the story of how one man attempted to emulate the knowledge of his day. Burning with a passion to invent the science of life, Victor Frankenstein soon realizes that such a desire to go beyond current knowledge will backfire and torment the remainder of his life. In the Gothic novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley conveys her attitudes towards science by portraying it as having the capability to exceed the bounds of human restraint. The overwhelming theme of science that is expressed in Frankenstein is that knowledge has the potential to go beyond the boundaries of human control.