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Scientific And Medical Exploration In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Despite being published in 1818 the novel Frankenstein continues to be relevant. This romantic novel can be picked apart to reveal it’s scientific and ethical relevance in modern medicine as she brings up important points in these fields. Through the character of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley emphasises the importance of scientific and medical exploration considering it is for the betterment of the field. Shelley chose to portray the importance of true intention with the best interest of the medical field in mind by having Victor Frankenstein embody the incorrect intentions experimenting in unknown fields. His rants reveal his intentions are both selfish and materialistic. He expresses that he has “procured [...] great esteem and admiration at the university” (45) and hopes to do that again, exposing that his intentions partially lie with fame. Being a scientist Victor’s intentions in exploration should be for the field not for himself. As Shelley reveals more of Victor's internal monologue the reader hears Victor rationalizing his actions as “pour[ing] a torrent of light into our dark world” (48) and likening his determination as slavery to …show more content…

She instead chooses to pick apart the mistakes of one man to lay out a cautionary tale of the risks involved in scientific exploration and the many ways it can go wrong. Shelley hints on the fact that it is the fault of Victor when Waldman gives Victor advice on becoming a “real man of science” (43). Doctor Waldman explains that one must be well rounded and well versed in all subjects, including philosophy, to be a true scientist. Victor sought out Waldman’s advice and appears to understand what he is explaining but rather chooses to return to his fixated ways. By adding this, and other more broad parts, Shelley aims to show that this story is from the flaw in one man not in the scientific exploration and experimental field as a

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Shelley's genius is presenting the idea that human beings are capable of accomplishing extraordinary feats. However, there are natural limitations and in ignoring them, bad things tend to happen. Victor exceeded these parameters in creating life. Sure enough, when he realized the folly of his action, it was too late.

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This choice highlights Victor’s mental instability, selective memory, and lack of accountability to build the tension driving the plot, calls attention to alternate perspectives, and asks the reader to question Victor’s motives. Shelley first calls into question Victor’s reliability with his mental instability, often stemming

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Throughout history, humans draw towards different passions that leave them driven to discover more about it or to embrace it. Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, offers multiple examples of how one’s passion often leads them towards their demise. Through Robert Walton’s, the creature’s, and Victor Frankenstein’s point of view, the novel describes each main characters’ persistence to achieve their dream and where it takes them in their life at the end of the story. Within the novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein pursues his passion for natural philosophy and chemistry by focusing on breaking the barriers between life and death.

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Alejandro Cruz Period 3 English 04/23/24. Each day science expands its horizons, and the realm of scientific knowledge is constantly growing alongside the ambition of scientists striving to make discoveries possible. In Mary Shelley's book Frankenstein, Victor plays a pivotal role as he delves into forbidden experimentation, ultimately creating a creature like no other. Shelly masterfully illustrates the profound dilemmas, consequences, and anxieties surrounding scientific progress. In this essay, we will examine how Mary Shelley's Book Frankenstein serves as a warning of the dangers of science.

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Victor then starts to study science, over the years of studying he is fascinated by life and tries to go one step further and discover the secret of it. Victor believed, “A new species would bless [him] as its creator and source…” (Shelley ,54) He thinks that people will owe

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In order to do his research more efficiently, Victor isolates himself from relatives for discoveries that will only benefit himself. More, he strives to become a god by creating a sentient being, seeing it as a ‘glorious’ endeavor despite proclaiming, “What glory would attend discovery, if I could banish disease from human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!” (Shelley

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Resulting in his mother’s death, the extensive pain he felt from losing a loved one motivated the pursuit of knowledge he would spend his time as a student studying, theoryzing if the pain of death could be prevented, would life be more happy? The idea Victor formed his study from is the concept where science is a means to understand the world and the nature of the universe provides the answer to improving life through applying fixed sciences to unknown changes in life, believing knowledge will bring him happiness. His ambition of study led him to pursue an education, describing his passion to be, “I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor the code of governments possessed attractions for me… It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn.” (Shelley pg 33).

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His desire to accomplish scientific feats were conceived during his childhood readings of natural philosophy posed by Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus. “I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor the code of governments, nor the politics of various states possessed attractions for me. It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in it highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.” (Shelley 23). This quote comes from Victor’s recounting of his childhood.

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As Victor immersed himself in science, specifically the creation of life, the male gothic traits of obsession, power, and impetuousness are exhibited. He becomes fixated with the creation of life to such an extent that he was unable “tear his thoughts from his employment” to initiate contact with his family or participate in habits that previously brought him joy, such as spending time in nature (Shelley 34). Victor rashness left no room to view his plan rationally and see any “arguments of its impracticability” or its potential consequences. His obsessive nature further spurred by the God like power he would feel upon successful creation of new species who “would owe their being” to him (Shelley 33). Victor’s ambitious nature was driven,

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