Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Nature is the foundation of our world and it is the basis of all creation. Science is the area of research that is determined to expand knowledge so that one is able to better understand the way nature functions. Both nature and science are governed by a specific set of rules and regulations that abide by their principles of origin. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein presents a prevailing theme of nature versus science. By having each of the two main characters represent one side of the argument, Shelley is able to effectively explore the confrontation between natural and unnatural. Frankenstein represents science, the victim of nature’s revenge, whose role is personified by Victor’s creation. Scientists constantly try to find explanations that explain

Frankenstein’s actions of manipulating the natural process of creating life disrupted the innate flow of the universe, ultimately leading to negative consequences. Limitations set by life and death were part of Victor’s initial motivation, but as the creation process progressed, the scientist seemed to have other driving forces. Just before the animation of his experiment, Frankenstein begins to see himself in a new fashion claiming that “a new species would bless [him] as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to [him],” (54) implying that his creation of new life would parallel that of God. Victor has challenged the hidden places of nature where the most valuable secrets are

Breaking the circle of life seemed like a good idea until the monster seeks revenge. All the illnesses and deaths are indirectly linked to Victor and his creation that he set free in the real world. Nature gets its revenge. After the animation of his unnatural creature, Victor becomes extremely ill showing that individuals who test nature’s boundaries will be punished. Following his recovery, many of Victor’s loved ones have become the victims of the monster and nature’s abuse continues to trump the workings of science. Going against the ways of nature has created unforeseen struggles for Victor and ultimately lead to his own demise and deaths of numerous loved ones.

In Frankenstein, Shelley effectively uses her characters to show that despite the tremendous efforts of science to find the underlying methods of our world, ultimately nature wins. This fictional novel presents the idea that defying the limitations set by nature only leads to tragedy. Disrupting the innate flow of the universe puts the entire system in shock and forces the laws of nature to find out how to return the world to normal. Instead of gaining authority over the phenomena, one becomes the victim of the