Shelly's Erosion Of Moral Integrity In Frankenstein

Impelled by the socio-political upheaval marked by the Enlightenment’s scientific rationalist expansionism, Shelley’s disruptive gothic novel Frankenstein confronts Rationalist beliefs by dismantling the established supremacy of human intellect, conveying man’s motivations of unsanctioned scientific advancements punitively culminate in immorality and alienation rather than solace and integrity. Shelley's Frankenstein immerses readers in a world of “misery and destruction” resulting from the unbridled motivations of its protagonist, Victor Frankenstein. Driven by an insatiable thirst for scientific knowledge to “penetrate nature’s secrets” and the desire to transcend the limitations of mortality and “acquire unlimited powers,”, Frankenstein

Shelly's characterisation of the hubristic motivated character of Victor Frankenstein exemplifies the consequences of unchecked ambition and the erosion of moral integrity, as he seeks forbidden knowledge, “depriving (himself) of rest and health” in his attempts to transcend mortality, motivated by the idea that “a new species would bless (him) as its creator and source”, ultimately leading to create what he describes as a “hideously ugly creation.” Through the moral quandaries faced by the characters whereby the creature laments upon his predicament, “I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch…..I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me…sorrow only increased with knowledge” Frankenstein becomes a cautionary microcosm, compelling readers to reflect upon the repercussions of prioritising personal aspirations above ethical

Emphasised by way of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Birthmark’ challenging the lingering influence of the Enlightenment Era in Romantic America, illustrating the consequences of individuals who seek to exceed the limits of natural laws in their pursuit of perfection. Congruent with the characterisation of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist Alymer is a scientist “proficient in every branch of natural philosophy” who possesses hubristic self-confidence of being on the level of Mother Nature and the gods, promoting a commentary on the battle between science and nature whilst ultimately embodying the collective hubris of man as his dedication to scientific progress comes at the expense of common decency ultimately resulting in immense tragedy for both husband and wife. Demonstrated by his scheme to "corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work". His hubristic obsession with eradicating a tiny blemish on his wife's face ultimately leads him to disregard the consequences of tampering with nature, neglecting the delicate balance between science and ethics a central concern in the technological advancement and world of