Frankenstein Ambition Research Paper

Max Sharawy

English IV

Mrs. Schroder

7 December 2016

Ambition Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a tale of ambition of all forms. Whether it is the narration of Robert Walton, the tales of Dr. Frankenstein, or the point of view of the Creature, ambition drives the characters within the novel. In Walton’s case, he strives to discover new things and expand his scientific knowledge. With Dr. Frankenstein, he attempts to bring his youthful sense of scientific studies to life. As far as the Creature is concerned, he simply wants to interact with humans and become a part of the world. Ambition can drive people to do good, such as with Walton. It can also drive one to do bad, as the Creature does. Yet, the worst thing ambition

Victor Frankenstein. A brilliant and gifted scientist with a thirst for knowledge, it seemed Frankenstein was destined to study science. Growing up, he was pushed solely through his love for science. This was furthered by one single event. Before he took the next step in his education, his mother passed. This sent Frankenstein into a state of depression and he threw himself into his work. It was not long before he was the top of school. He then looked for a more challenging adventure. The power to recreate life fascinated Frankenstein. Yet, when it was complete, he realized the horrors which his ambition had created. Frankenstein viewed the Creature as an abomination. The actions of the Creature further drive Frankenstein to regret his actions. In the case of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, ambition corrupted and distorted a young boy’s love, which in turn would lead to the death of a grown man’s love. For Dr. Frankenstein loved Elizabeth with a burning passion, as shown in Chapter 18 quote “I love my cousin tenderly and

For Robert Walton, it was fighting through the ice to achieve his goal, never letting up, never relenting. Going back to Dr. Frankenstein, he showed immense ambition in finding the Creature, the killer of his loved ones. For months he chased him around Europe, going as far as the North Pole to gain his retribution. The Creature himself strived to accomplish a goal which was unobtainable from the beginning - to fit into a world which he did not belong in. Ambition drove the characters in this book in many directions. For Walton it was a simple way, towards the thing he desired the most. For Frankenstein and his monster, ambition led to the downfall and destruction of their lives. For it was ambition which pushed Frankenstein to create the monster, which would end up killing those he held closest. Ambition was what drew Frankenstein around the globe and to his death, seeking revenge. It was ambition which led the Creature to learn to read and discover the horrible circumstance which he was born into. Ambition gave way to the horrible acts he committed. While ambition, in its purest form, leads to good, when corrupted it can have disastrous