Frankenstein: A Passionate Revenge Cycle “The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science”(Einstein). This quote by esteemed physicist Albert Einstein describes the relationship between the unknown and known and how a mystery is used to find answers. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, protagonist Victor sought after the concept of life as it was a mystery which led him towards a dangerous path of scientific discovery. After many years, Victor was able to crack the code and build a life-like human which he quickly abandoned after realizing his mistake in breaking scientific boundaries. The monster continued to interfere with Victor’s life …show more content…
Victor was a young boy when his curiosity sparked an interest in modern science and natural philosophy. After spending his childhood reading about philosophers and alchemists, he entered the University of Ingolstadt to continue pursuing these interests. He soon met a professor who inspired his new found attention to the mysteries of creation. However, his curiosity soon turned into an obsession and Victor spent the next few years researching the fundamental concept of life. He began isolating himself from family and friends and spent all his time deep in research, deprived of sleep and health. Two years later, he was finally able to decipher the science of creating life which he decided to give it to something complex and wonderful like a man. He began collecting body parts to stitch together to create a life-like man which then became his monster. He described it as having beautifully created features but the contrasts throughout the body were too overwhelming for a decent presentation of his work. Victor soon realized his mistake after its birth and his shortsighted ambition wore off. He says “I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”(Shelly 38). Victor now saw the creature as demoniacal and horrific and abandoned it by running away. A religious journal article questions his actions stating that “accountability grows out of community and is necessary for confirmation and integrity…Victor takes the next step above curiosity to the forbidden” (Eckel 6). Because Victor secluded himself in his workshop, nobody could see what he was doing. If he had another pair of eyes, they could have guided him to see that his actions were immoral and