The Role Of Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one the most iconic books ever made. And with beautiful diction, vivid imagery, subliminal philosophy: it’s evident Shelley had experience in storytelling. Within those philosophical undertones, the idea that knowing too much is more malevolent than it is benevolent. A single scientific discovery—like learning how to create life—can lead to either domestic or international unextinguishable anguish. Are smarter people typically more depressed? Are there things humans weren’t ever supposed to know? Mary Shelley’s book, featuring Victor Frankenstein, argues that too much knowledge is dangerous and can lead to misery and disastrous outcomes.

There is such a thing as dangerous knowledge, and can lead some to domestic

It is believed that people who are gifted with knowledge are often more disconsolate. Perhaps the geniuses know something that the commoners don’t. Frankenstein speaks of a much simpler life, one endowed in blissful ignorance: “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Shelley 31). A theory crafted by John Stuart Mill claims that “[i]t is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied” (Troia). Basically, the village idiot is the happiest man in town whilst Einstein, despite his fame and glory, is miserable. According to a study performed by the University of Toronto and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, the neuronal calcium sensor-1 protein, associated with curiosity in mice is linked with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in humans (Mientka). Frankenstein has not been shown to have bipolar disorder, but there is a connection to curiosity. When Frankenstein mentions aspiring to become greater than his nature will allow, he is talking about transgressing his moral and physiological limits. Intelligent people are curious people, and if sleep is depriving them of satiating their curiosity, they tend to neglect it. When Frankenstein is creating his monster, his efforts in fulfilling his boundless curiosity leads indefatigably to his demise: “I have lately been so deeply engaged in one occupation, that I have not allowed myself sufficient rest…” (Shelley 37). Lack of sleep strains the body and sleep deprivation has proven to be harmful to the body, with symptoms including schizophrenia, insomnia, and especially depression (WebMD). Shelley has placed all blame of Frankenstein’s melancholy on the Creature; however, sleep deprivation is also a huge