Genetic Engineering Depicted In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

During World War II, the Manhattan Project was a research and developmental plan which devised the world’s first known nuclear weapons. Nuclear power not only began a new era of warfare, but the discovery also created new ways to abuse the power of such lethal weaponry. Researchers discovered how to fuse Plutonium and Uranium, which allowed scientists to gain knowledge about the devastating reaction between the two elements; however, during a time of aggression and desperation in the United States, leaders such as Roosevelt decided to utilize this new technology to take the innocent lives of many living in Hiroshima. The scientists who initially studied nuclear fusion solely intended for their findings to benefit their knowledge of elemental reactions. This example from World War II is one of many

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a scientific view about the pursuit of knowledge by mankind is presented, yet Shelley also notes how the application of new information can work against the creator. Shelley’s view that technology can bring corruption is demonstrated in the novel through character actions, and this theme can relate to the modern world through processes such as genetic engineering because this practice utilizes advanced technology to tamper with potential lives. Genetic engineering raises questions about ethics within science and relates to Frankenstein because the novel deals with a primal form of genetic engineering. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley presents her fear about the monstrosities brought about due to the unnatural implications of scientific discoveries. She explains how the general usage of technology causes people to dissent from natural practices and create corruption among those who use the technology. During