In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "The Tragedy of Faust" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," the main characters, Doctor Faust and Victor Frankenstein, respectively, share a dangerous prioritization of knowledge over morality. Both characters exhibit a relentless pursuit of knowledge, disregarding even ethical considerations. The parallels between "The Tragedy of Faust" and "Frankenstein" in their depictions of main characters that sook knowledge over all else, as well as their eventual consequences and demise, have strong connections between each other.
In "The Tragedy of Faust," an incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable scholar, Faust, discovers that he has mastered philosophy, law, and theology, and finds that he has grown "no wiser than before" (Goethe 25). Still, Faust has enthusiasm enough to search for more knowledge. Namely, in the occult. His extreme commitment to learning leads him to create a pact with Mephistopheles, a demon, in order to acquire endless knowledge. Faust's pact with Mephistopheles allows him access to forbidden knowledge and power,
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Frakenstein, driven by a relentless curiosity, delves into the realm of science and commits acts of immorality in an attempt to unlock the secrets of life itself. His pursuit of knowledge, however, blinds him to the moral implications of his actions (as well as the repugnant appearance of his monstrosity), and therefore continues his experiments, driven by a reckless ambition. Victor later warns, "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge" (Shelley 53). The monster, a product of Victor's pursuit of knowledge, becomes a symbol of his moral failings, in his failings to both stop himself and the monster from becoming twisted versions of what could have