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Anthropocentrism In Frankenstein

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Ecocriticism, the connection of literature and nature, has become a vital tool in understanding novels. The terms that are a part of it help the reader not only to understand larger themes in the story, but also to understand the characters. Anthropocentrism is one of these terms and refers to a human centered point of view. Another is biocentrism, a view where humans are a part of the ecosystem that is nature. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, these terms can be used to understand the main character, Victor Frankenstein. By analyzing the text, it is apparent that Frankenstein is more anthropocentric than biocentric due to his view of nature as a resource for him to utilize and manipulate rather than a system that he is part of.
Victor’s aspiration to …show more content…

However, when one analyzes the text through an ecocritical lens, it is clear that he is not an amazing intellectual, but rather a selfish person who cares only about his own gain rather than what is good for the entirety of the natural world. To begin, Victor desires to uncover “the secrets of nature”-even though they may not be his to discover. By setting out on the task to discover Earth’s mysteries, he depicts his belief that he is in control and has the right to find out what it is hiding. While his curiosity may be justifiable, his methods are not. He does not simply want to uncover the secrets, but rather to “penetrate” them. This aggressive diction reiterates Frankenstein’s belief that he has power over the natural world as one cannot force its way into something without having a tight grasp on it. Rather than holding the belief that he is a part of nature- the biocentric view- he sees himself as above it and as a resource for him to manipulate. Victor’s dedication to understand the world is recurrent throughout the story.

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He so passionately seeks to bestow life upon the dead and it is this passion which drives him over the edge. Victor’s opposition of the fundamental laws of nature through him bringing life to the lifeless is what ultimately leads him to his own tragic downfall. One of Victor’s professors at the university of Ingolstadt, who was named M. Waldman, motivates him to pursue his callings in natural philosophy, which is seen as a dead form of natural

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Throughout the novel, Victor's actions are motivated by his own desires and ambitions, often at the expense of those around him. In Chapter 7, he reflects on his pursuit of knowledge and states, "It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world" (Shelley 50). With this quote, Shelley shows Victor's preoccupation with his own intellectual pursuits, which take priority over his relationships and the well-being of those around him. Another example of Victor's lack of empathy can be seen when he creates the creature without considering the potential consequences for the creature's well-being. He states, "I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelley 34).

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This quote shows the peaceful and healing effects that nature has on the creature. Despite being rejected and ostracized by society, the creature finds comfort in the natural world, which provides him with food and shelter. In contrast, Victor, who has rejected the natural world in favor of science and technology, finds no solace and is consumed by guilt and

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