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Secondary Source Evaluation Assignment: Frankenstein And The State Of Nature

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Secondary Source Evaluation Assignment: Frankenstein and the State of Nature Ethos: Professor Sir Jonathan Bate is an accomplished academic who has made significant contributions to literary scholarship and education. He holds the Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities position at Arizona State University (Bate 1). Professor Sir Jonathan Bate possesses the position of Senior Fellow in Research at Worcester College, Oxford University, and Trustee of The Hawthornden Foundation, in addition to his position as Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities at Arizona State University. Previously operating as the Provost of Worcester College, Gresham Professor of Rhetoric in London, and Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature …show more content…

I agree that Shelley's work presents a nuanced perspective on the relationship between science and nature. Like the author, I believe that Frankenstein challenges the idea of a clear dichotomy (division) between the enlightened pursuit of scientific knowledge and the natural world. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein's ambition and unchecked pursuit of scientific knowledge leads to disastrous consequences. However, it is important to note that Shelley does not condemn science itself but rather the irresponsible and unethical use of it. This aligns with the author's argument that science can be a force for good if handled wisely and used with good intentions. Moreover, the article's comparison between Frankenstein and Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" sheds light on shared themes of science as a threat to nature and the division between the enlightened and nature. This comparison deepens our understanding of Frankenstein and highlights the broader Romantic concerns about the consequences of human interference in the natural …show more content…

It has been shown that she was grappling with significant philosophical and moral questions of her time, exploring the potential benefits and risks of scientific advancement. In terms of Romanticism, the article has highlighted the movement's preoccupation with the relationship between humans and the natural world. It has demonstrated how Frankenstein encapsulates Romantic concerns about the consequences of disrupting the natural order and the potential for reconciliation between the enlightenment brought by science and our innate connections to nature. Lastly, the article has reinforced the value of the novel form in exploring complex ideas and themes. Through its analysis of Frankenstein and its connections to Coleridge's poem, the article exemplifies how the novel can provide a rich and multifaceted exploration of philosophical, social, and moral issues. In conclusion, this article has deepened my appreciation for Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's brilliance as a writer, the principles of Romanticism, and the power of the novel as a literary

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