Dangers Of Nature In Frankenstein

765 Words4 Pages
The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley provides an insightful look at the dangers of crossing the boundaries of nature and science without considering the morality of the outcome. Shelley provides a powerful explanation of the human condition through the character Robert Walton from beginning to end of the novel. Although the being created by Frankenstein was terrifying, in the end, the real monster was Frankenstein himself who exhibits these qualities through drastic changes in thought process, a perverted concept of perfection, and the manifestation of a God complex. Firstly, Frankenstein shows signs of curiosity for modern science at the age of fifteen when he becomes enlightened about the more current theories of electricity and galvanism during a thunderstorm that results in a tremendous lightning strike. It is this new and more perfected world of science that spurs on Frankenstein 's later ambitions to build the monster. Frankenstein 's change in thought from his innocent childhood curiosity in the past alchemists of science becomes a lustful and greedy obsession with a new knowledge of modern chemistry, which knows no bounds. Frankenstein realizes that old science is imperfect in nature, so he abandons his former studies and refers to them as a “deformed and abortive... knowledge” (Shelley, chapter 2, pg. 366). The way the author addresses this shift in thinking parallels how Frankenstein ultimately disowns his creation, for it is this sudden change in mindset that