How Is Frankenstein A Gene-Editing Technology

The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is considered a timeless classic because it focuses on the human condition and its nuances through the scientific lens. The author delves into the ethical dilemmas of unchecked technological advances and their repercussions. This can still be seen today with the development of DNA CRISPR (a gene-editing technology), both the novel and reality involving the manipulation of life. Through the characterization of Victor in Shelley’s Frankenstein, it examines the need for scientific responsibility. At the beginning of the novel, Victor can be characterized as arrogant and ambitious. This is exemplified in the scene where he becomes enthralled with recreating life and begins to set up his materials to create

He wants recognition from both the public and his creations. The usage of the word bless here gives this passage a religious undertone. Perhaps Victor sees himself as a God who is entitled to whatever positive things are attached to his creations; whether that be their happiness or excellence because it came from him. Essentially, there is an air of ownership or lack of room for autonomy for his creations. This is also similar to the argument of parental authority versus children’s autonomy when it comes to the practice of CRISPR. People with authority might use gene editing for aesthetic purposes instead of medical. And even for medical purposes, it could teeter onto the lines of eugenics. The justification for this would be that they are using it to give a better life and more fulfilling life because the authoritative figure chose what they deemed as desirable traits. However, it can perpetuate and reinforce bias on what society perceives as “desirable” traits. Without setting boundaries in the legal framework, it can cause everlasting damage to future generations. One of Victor’s other prominent characteristics is his obsession with manipulating

From the context, it suggests that he abandoned everything else, which includes ethical reasons, and solely focused on infusing life into an inanimate body. He willingly sacrificed his basic needs, depriving himself of his “rest and health” in return for more time with his experiments. He acknowledges how this obsession was filled with “an ardour that far exceeded moderation”, his ambition is beyond restraint and passes what people would consider normal. Yet the “beauty of the dream”, his envisionment of praise from society disappears and is replaced by “horror and disgust”. The juxtaposition of these two images of something grander, dream-like to something horrific and nightmarish emphasizes his internal conflict with his self-image and society's view of it. The creature fails to meet both his and society’s expectations, so now he is afraid society would also reject him by association with the creature. It is a consequence of when he continuously deprives himself of these things (scientific responsibility and ethical reflection) he assumes normalcy in its absence, that it is not a necessity until it becomes too