In the flickering light of a dark and stormy night, a young author by the name of Mary Shelley wrote a tale that would change literature for future generations. By nearly 18 years old, Shelley published a gothic novel that would examine the natural habits of human nature. Taking place during the 1800s, the novel tells the tale of a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein, who’s curiosity is gripped by science. The path Frankenstein is set on, he is consumed by nothing other than sorrow and tragedy, caused by his creation who seeks revenge. Throughout the tale, there are multiple scenes that demonstrate how emotion-driven humans are. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the theme of the nature of humanity is projected through curiosity, selfishness, …show more content…
Experience plays a vital role in sparking the curiosity of human nature. Although others around Frankenstein are focused and involved with their own curiosities, it was not to the same extent. Frankenstein’s experience encouraged him to strive for his own goals and learn about the natural laws. This goes to show that human curiosity is motivated through human experience. The selfish acts Frankenstein unawarely commits throughout the novel, a vital subject to the theme of humanity. Choosing to create a being that has the ability to cause destruction upon mankind and having no intention of taking responsibility for it is a prime example of Frankenstein’s selfishness. As the novel progresses, Frankenstein makes a selfish decision to neglect and forget about his creation. Given chance after chance, to come clean about his creation, Frankenstein makes a hurtful decision to keep the secret to himself, in order to protect his reputation. Instead of clearing his name, Frankenstein asks Walton to do a task for him, “when will my guiding spirit, in conducting me to the daemon, allow me the rest I so much desire; or must I die, and he yet live? If I do, swear to me, Walton, that he shall not escape, that you will seek him and satisfy my vengeance in his death” (155). This claim is not only selfish but is truly unjust, to pass his mission onto Walton, who did not owe anything to him and would instead put himself in a dangerous situation to fulfill