The Importance Of Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Young children are often faced up against the outside world without any knowledge or worries of any kind. Unlike the monster, most children grow up surrounded by humans, experiencing many life lessons as well as several encounters through human interaction. With this being so, the creature is left without any knowledge of his strength and harmful capabilities. In the book “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, she demonstrates how a man’s obsessive thirst and desire for more knowledge can result in the ultimate downfall of his mind and soul.

The audience first views an obsessive thirst for knowledge through Victor’s abnormal actions and desires. In the beginning parts of the book, the readers see Victor as a young boy with a great desire for more

Throughout the book, the audience views many of the negative side effects of Victor’s obsessive actions. “ I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this, I had deprived myself of rest and health” (42). Through this, Shelly illustrates how Victors unrestrained studies and work have begun to make him restless, and sick out of his mind. As a result of Victor's desire and drive to obtain more knowledge, he becomes what he can only describe as miserable, “ I beheld the accomplishment of my toils with anxiety that amounted to agony” (42). From this, Shelly allows Victor to be viewed as very ill. Because of the man’s yearning and quest for knowledge, he creates something beyond his imagination that eventually destroys his very

In the beginning chapters of the book, Victor is seen infusing life into a lifeless body. Ultimately, this weighs very hard on Victor's mind and he doesn't realize what kind of monster he had created until he saw it come to life. “ I was fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life” (43). Through this, the readers see Victor’s mind filled with regret and fear, which becomes very ill, even mad. He eventually regresses to a point where he no longer is in contact with his family and friends. Ultimately, this leads up to Victor’s demise. Towards the end of the book the monster destroys everything Victor cares about , “ The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to rage and despair. They were dead, and I lived” (180). Here Victor grieves the death of his loved ones, wishing he could be deceased as well. Shelly enables the audience to see that Victor had given up, and his monster was accountable for his ultimate