Frankenstein Knowledge Theme

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In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses the recurring theme of “the pursuit of knowledge” to reveal that the danger of knowledge is not the knowledge itself, but instead the possibility of corruption of the knowledge by human society. Mary Shelley’s uses the pursuit of knowledge to put a heavy concern on the responsibility of the creator’s use of knowledge, in regards to creations and discoveries. She has a heavy underlying focus on the responsibilities of scientists to take responsibility and provide forethought for their creations and discoveries. In the novel, Victor is a scientist who creates life from death, inspired by his fascination with the “secret of life”. Victor’s creation of Frankenstein devastated and disappointed him. The monster…show more content…
Before he attends the University he focuses his studies on alchemy, and during his time at the University he studies modern science. Victor is consumed by his desire to unearth the “secret of life”, and so armed with his new knowledge begins to piece together a creature out of old body parts. After months of work, Victor’s creation is brought to life and the monster that he has created horrifies him. Victor says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, 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.” The knowledge that Victor acquired was obsessive and oppressive in nature. During his time piecing the monster together, he neglected himself and his family. Victor’s acquired knowledge allowed him to create something that was out of his control. Mary Shelley is relaying to her audience that Victor’s new knowledge was not harmful, but his use of his knowledge was. In turn, she is also relaying that scientists should use the power and intelligence that they possess to plan ahead and take responsibility in their creations and…show more content…
The monster describes his initial experiences after being created, his thoughts, feeling, and discoveries. The creature then begins to tell his story of the family of cottagers, whom he has been watching. While he is watching them, a sense of moral character that the creature encompasses begins to be uncovered. The monster watches the interactions between the cottagers with admiration. The knowledge that he gains from watching the cottagers causes him to long to be loved and accepted like the family that he is watching. The monster hopes that if he reveals himself to the kind cottagers they will overlook his appearance, but when he reveals himself he is attacked and ran out of the town. Due to this, the audience begins to see that the mistreatment and injustice he faces causes him to become corrupt. The monster says, “sufferings were augmented also by the oppressive sense of the injustice and ingratitude of their infliction. My daily vows rose for revenge – a deep and deadly revenge, such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish I had endured”(page 143). The monster’s knowledge that he gained by watching the cottagers made him long to become part of a loving family and be accepted. In turn, he is dismissed and for this he wishes to gain revenge. Mary Shelley is relaying to the audience that the danger does not come from the
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