Pursuit Of Knowledge In Frankenstein - 1866 Words

In the gothic novel, Frankenstein, written in 1818, author Mary Shelley tells a blood chilling story of Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation. Many of the main concepts in the Romantic literary movement are prevalent throughout the novel. Some of these concepts include nature as beauty and truth, strong personal motivation, and gothicism which inhibits intense emotion and complex psychology. Victor’s monstrous creation can be categorized as a romantic hero because of his continuous rejection from all forms of society. On the surface level the novel is of suspense and horror, yet it profoundly aims to highlight the dangers of overstepping the boundaries of ethical science. Written during an era of vast technological and†¦show more content†¦Captain Walton documents this story in the perspective of Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein grew up in the town of Geneva, Switzerland. Though dampered by his father’s criticism of reading, Victor ambitiously mastered all subjects and dreamed of attending the University of Ingolstadt. After experiencing a lighting strike on a nearby tree Victor’s curiosity for the sciences grew phenomenoly. Victor meets his dream of attending college in Germany where he meets his best friend Henry Clerval. For two years Victor undoubtedly impresses his professors and fellow classmates with his vast knowledge. Yet he is consumed with a desire to discover the secrets of life thus planning a way to create a human being. After precise planning and the digging up of deceased bodies in the local cemetery Victor begins to construct his being. Victor is immediately filled with horror and guilt at the first sight of life in the grotesque monstrous creation. Ashamed Victor flees his creation leaving the clueless creature to fend for himself. Victor tells no one of th e creature. Months later Victor receives a letter from his father telling him to come home because his younger brother William has been murdered. As Victor flees home he is bewildered after seeing a glimpse of the monster in the nearby woods. Immediately he realizes the monster is at fault for William’s murder. However after arriving home he finds that the Frankenstein’s servant Justine is beingShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein Pursuit Of Knowledge Essay1673 Words   |  7 Pages Among the many themes explored in Mary Shelley s timeless classic â€Å"Frankenstein†, the one I find to be most relevant and the one that truly resonated with me was the dangers that stem from the pursuit of knowledge. This theme resonated with me for many reasons because, while the pursuit of knowledge has allowed humankind to exert and enjoy unparalleled and unprecedented power over the animal kingdom and the world itself, it’s a seemingly benign aspect of human nature that can pa radoxically renderRead MoreFrankenstein Pursuit Of Knowledge Essay1403 Words   |  6 PagesInformation War: The Truths of Knowledge in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein What exactly is the pursuit of knowledge? One might say that the pursuit of knowledge is when one conducts irregular experiments and actions. One might say that the pursuit of knowledge is the process of the collecting information needed in completing that test. However, the universal truth says that one can never accumulate all the knowledge in the world. However, one might opinion that the pursuit of knowledge is a wonderful thingRead MoreFrankenstein: the Dangerous Pursuit of Knowledge1552 Words   |  7 PagesDanielle Bouquio ENG 210 10/16/12 Frankenstein: The Dangerous Pursuit of Knowledge Over the past few centuries, the intellectuals of society have made countless advances in science and the development of technology, which, to different degrees, have all benefitted mankind. These scientific discoveries are a result of man’s thirst for and dedication to acquiring knowledge, information, and power. The innate curiosity and desire for understanding in an individual can grow so immense that hisRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein : The Pursuit Of Knowledge1028 Words   |  5 PagesKnowledge can cause a numerous amount of problems for those who choose to pursue it. That is if they decide to traverse on the more taboo sides of the sciences instead of staying inside the societal norms that have been set up. This is one of the more prevalent themes in Mary Shelley s Frankenstein. Among the themes of loneliness and revenge you have the one out standing theme of knowledge being dangerous. The pursuit of knowledge has caused some of the greatest horrors in the world of man and thisRead MoreThe Intellectual Pursuit and Its Social Counterpart in Frankenstein1056 Words   |  5 PagesThe Intellectual Pursuit and Its Social Counterpart Victor Frankenstein, as a scientist, has a burning passion and an infinite curiosity for the science of reanimation. After spending years studying what is known of the subject, Victor makes a discovery that would have been considered an enormous scientific breakthrough. However, once Frankenstein applies this new science, the science becomes a detriment to society, never to be attempted again. Frankenstein ignored the social implications of theRead MoreShelley s Views Of The Dangers Of Knowledge1679 Words   |  7 Pagesdangers of knowledge contained in her novel Frankenstein â€Å"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes not be a serpent to sting you, as mine had been,† this fragment of Victor Frankenstein’s conversations with Robert Walton exemplifies Mary Shelley’s views of the dangers of knowledge, in her novel, â€Å"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,† where main characters Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein ruthlessly peruse knowledge. The themeRead MoreMoral Lessons in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein1322 Words   |  5 Pages Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has become a classic in modern literature. Her tale is full of moral lessons that encompass a wide variety of subjects but one of the most prevalent is the theme of knowledge and its pursuit. Frankenstein, Walton, and the Monster all have an appetite for acquiring knowledge and actively pursue their perspective interests, but it soon turns to the obsessive and proves to be dangerous. Each of the character’s desires demonstrates to be detrimental to them when no boundariesRead MoreA Caveat to the Pursuit of Knowledge1000 Words   |  4 Pagesundesirable knowledge, may occur in scientific pursuits. By its very nature, scientific exploration generates questions, but that does not mean that all of them can or should be answered. There exists a fine line between moral scientific pursuit and immoral scientific pursuit. Given that immoral scientific pursuit does, in fact, exist, and given a situation in which one can only acquire a certain knowledge through immoral scientific pursuit, then one would have to classify this knowledge as â€Å"forbiddenRead MoreFrankenstein: The Danger in Knowledge, Science and Playing God 1846 Words   |  7 Pagesdangers of pursuing knowledge? Alternatively, does he reveal to us the dangers of playing God? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein uses Victor Frankenstein’s creation to expose the dangers of knowledge and play ing God. Shelley exposes the readers to how in the pursuit of knowledge, man too often opens Pandora’s Box and unleashes unforeseen dangers unto the world. Shelley uses Victor Frankenstein and his creation to expose how knowledge and the pursuit of knowledge are explosive. Frankenstein is set during theRead MoreVictor Frankenstein Destruction Through Discovery1746 Words   |  7 Pages2017 Destruction through Discovery Summarizing the theme of the novel, Victor Frankenstein stated, â€Å"If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind† (34). When initially considered, the concept of â€Å"gaining knowledge† or â€Å"discovery† is generally viewed with a sense of positivity and hope. It is