Frankenstein Research Paper

Brock Downs

IAH 206

Prof. Stephen A. Jones

January 29, 2016

- Reflection Paper #1 -

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Since the beginning of time, humans have universally aspired to lay claim to the countless, yet unknown, discoveries of our ever-evolving planet. While few have proven themselves successful in this ongoing endeavor, the widespread desire to accomplish this feat lives on throughout much of our society today. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is, in many ways, a reflection upon human’s never-ending desire to obtain personal glory by means of technological breakthrough. Written during the core of the Industrial Revolution era, Shelley’s novel makes its historical context thoroughly evident from the very start of her story. The yearning

Walton continually references the presence of loneliness within his own life, writing “When I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy.” [2] Much to the surprise of Walton, we later discover that his sentiment is also coincidentally shared by Frankenstein as well. This analogy between man and the monster can certainly be perceived as Shelley’s illustration of the dangers associated with our humanly ability to adopt the power of God, with which unintentional, yet destructive consequences tend to arise as a result. Further exploration on this topic has led to similarities discovered both inside and out of class

Perhaps we may call it “the Frankenstein Effect” as a means of warning future generations of the consequences coming from our unintended misguidance. Cloning is an ongoing practice that comes to mind. At the time this novel was written, Shelley writes of the fictitious possibility that life could be created from the lifeless. Nearly 200 years later, her seemingly unintentional prediction holds true today as human cloning is gaining attention and could become increasingly prevalent worldwide.