Advancement In Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which was originally written in the early 19th century, tackles many themes. The story follows Victor Frankenstein on his journey of scientific advancement through creating life from dead beings. Something we see pictured all throughout the book is the questioning of the morality of advancements in science. I believe Mary Shelley is attempting to instill a warning into the minds of curious people. She is not only trying to warn that scientific advancements can be harmful, but also that everything under the scope of influence that humanity has is consequently subject to this harm. Nature itself is affected by your decisions, as well as other people. This means that her words apply to both: people chasing after something

Mary Shelley clearly states Victor’s opinion on learning how to create life back in chapter 4. “I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery. Learn from me, ...how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge…” It is shown here that Victor undoubtedly regrets seeking out how to create life. According to this same passage, Victor thinks that the simple life is the way people should live, as it leads to more happiness; “...how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, then he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” We can see his regret even more evidently in chapter 7 through his display of harrowing despair after figuring out that it was his monster who had killed William. “No one can conceive the anguish I suffered during the remainder of the night… I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind, and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes of horror, such as the deed which he had now done… my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me." I believe that what Shelley is trying to say through Victor’s mistake is that she thinks mankind should keep