Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein examines the pursuit of knowledge of society while ignoring the moral, ethical, and religious consequences of science. This novel was written in direct response to the growth of the medical and industrial industries. Shelly novel exemplifies the dangerous effects of the desire by society to posses the secrets of the universe to propel itself into the future. Individuals in society are looking for specific ways to sustain and lengthening the life of the individual within it. This drive is part of the innate human condition found with mankind. However, her novel warns that society must set limitations are its downfall will occur. The character of Victor Frankenstein illustrates man’s thirst for knowledge, without consideration to the laws of nature. Victor states, “It was the secrets of heaven and …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein forgoes morality to fulfill his own desires and needs. He isolates himself emotionally and physically to create his own aspirations. In his mind he does this to gain value and worth. Frankenstein becomes a representation of mankind and its thirst to gain superiority of all things found within it the nature world and surpass even the creator. Thus, the novel implies that society holds an ambition in higher regard and it is superior to seek information than to than suffer in ignorance. However, the novel becomes a warning that knowledge can many times led to both social and individual destruction. Mary Shelley offers a warning to society on the consequences of unbridled curiosity. For society to function and forgo destruction it must accept natural limits. If the limits are pushed, then uninhibited knowledge will lead to downfall and the destruction of mankind. During the specific era that the novel Frankenstein was written scientific advances were occurring at a rapid rate. Shelley used her novel to illustrate that all knowledge comes with a