The Role Of Forbidden Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

While writing Frankenstein in 1818, Mary Shelley included the theme of forbidden knowledge, or the avenue of scientific discoveries that should not be pursued. In the beginning this iconic tragedy, the reader is introduced to Victor Frankenstein a seemingly crazy “mad scientist” who attempts to be God. Throughout the novel, Dr. Frankenstein “embarks on a quest to create life” (Danny), which ultimately leads to his self demise. Although written nearly 200 years ago, Mary Shelley’s theme of forbidden knowledge has never been more applicable. Just as Victor Frankenstein created the monster without stopping to think about the lethal consequences of such action, scientists in the 21st century are genetically engineering babies with three parents to cure mitochondrial diseases, without regarding the possible consequences of genetic mutations and abnormalities in the procedure and as a result, should be treated with extreme caution. In Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein describes the ill effects his created monster on his personal life. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein describes the monster killing his little brother William, his friend Henry Clerval, and most importantly,

When Dr. Frankenstein created his monster, he did so in an effort to further progress the field of science. In chapter four, Dr. Frankenstein states “I … determined thenceforth to apply myself more particularly to those branches of natural philosophy” (Shelley 37). The scientists utilizing mitochondrial replacement therapy are also progressing the field of science by offering a potential cure to mitochondrial diseases. By using this new therapy, scientists believe that they might be able to cure a “range of illnesses, including deafness, blindness, diabetes, and heart and liver failure”