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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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