Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein has endured through the ages and has been interpreted in countless different ways. The theme of man versus nature is one of the novel’s most popularly accepted interpretations. Early 19th-century Europe was a time of scientific exploration and advancement when Frankenstein was set. As scientists worked to understand the world around them during this time, the idea of man versus nature began to gain popularity. Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who tries to manipulate nature by creating life, is an example of this theme. This conflict has far-reaching and profound implications because it illustrates man’s hubris in trying to control something much bigger than himself. Shelley can examine …show more content…
As Frankenstein’s monster shows, man’s disregard for nature can have terrible repercussions. Victor Frankenstein starts a chain of events that ends in tragedy when he decides to create life without thinking about the repercussions of his decision. The creature says he should be Adam but is just the fallen angel (Shelley, 92). In this quotation, the creature acknowledges the effects of man’s efforts to play god and influence nature. The creature exemplifies what can happen when man tries to manipulate nature. The creature results from Victor Frankenstein’s lack of thought when creating it; he did not consider the effects of what he was doing. It serves as a tangible reminder of what happens when people disregard …show more content…
Ultimately, he must acknowledge that his attempts to master and subdue nature have only brought about death and destruction. In addition, he has to deal with the fallout from his conceit, which resulted in the passing of family members (Shelley, 101). This serves to caution readers about the perils of trying to dominate and control nature and the significance of coexisting peacefully with it. The idea that man has a limited capacity to affect nature is another theme that Shelley emphasizes in her book. Through experimentation, Victor attempts to control the natural world but ultimately fails. The creature, Victor’s unintentional creation, serves as a reminder that nature is impervious to human influence (Shelley, 35). The creature suffers in the end due to uncontrollable events, even though it is not dependent on Victor for survival. Victor’s interference with nature caused the creature to be rejected as a reminder of man’s powerlessness in the face of nature in both the natural and human