In the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley we witness an exposure to the concepts of knowledge and science through an individual whose comprehension of anatomy and life conceives a monster from inanimate parts. Eventually this monstrosity extinguishes the lives of those closest to the creator who he cares for dearly and essentially the creator succumbs to his own death as a result of the monster. Fundamentally Shelley tells the story of how one man tempts fate by emulating knowledge of his day going outside the normal means of science. Burning with the passion to pioneer life, Victor soon realizes that such a desire to go beyond realistic knowledge will backfire and torment the remainder of his life. Inevitably, during the course of human existence, there has persisted a perpetual deprivation or infinite thirst in conjunction to inquiring knowledge, towards ameliorating mankind, however, as subtle as it sounds doesn’t necessarily mean that it always turns out that way. Shelley’s Frankenstein novel deals with identical disputes that transcend even the pursuit of knowledge, constituting emphasize on the ambiguity of how we employ our intelligence for either virtuous or malevolent deeds. Victor rustles with this same methodical notion of how human nature influences the pursuit of knowledge with unyielding, unquenchable, avid, voracious, ravenous, and gluttonous affects to assimilate or ascertain information at a substantial rate, which could possibly be used in a malicious manner if someone is foolish enough. Therefore, the prevailing argument in the gothic novel Frankenstein is that humans have a boundless, motivating, ambitious, but often precarious thirst for knowledge. Yet, the visions, thoughts, concepts, and actions of both humankind and Victor followed similar patterns only in the beginning until reality overshadowed Victor. Both Victor and Walton commence on an expedition en route for renowned acclaim and Prestige, but at what cost? Conversely the pursuit of knowledge requires a higher price than one can forfeit. At the beginning, Victor is born into an affectionate tender family who cares for him deeply, thriving as an only child, spoiled by his parents. In essence he is the son of an affluent couple who dote on him throughout his early childhood. As stated in this passage there love permeates for their only child “I remained for several years their only child. Much as they were attached to each other, they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me.”(Shelley ch 1) Following a distant trip to Milan Victor’s mother stumbles upon an orphan girl staying with a peasant family who are unable to take care of her any longer. She gazes upon this girl with glimmering eyes indicating that this is surely no ordinary girl. “Her hair was the brightest living gold, and despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless, and her lips and the moulding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness, that none could behold her without looking on her as of a distinct species, a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features.” (Shelley ch 1) Subsequently Victor’s family adds or adopts this orphan girl, initiating her into their household deeming her as an informal cousin by the name of Elizabeth. Immediately Elizabeth is acclimated into her new household and at the same time she is presented to Victor as a promised gift from his mother in order for Victor to shield, cherish and love. “On the evening previous to her being brought to my home, my mother had said playfully -- "I have a pretty present for my Victor -- tomorrow he shall have it." And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine -- mine to protect, love, and cherish.” (Shelley ch 1) Shortly after Victor turns seventeen he begins to attend the University of Ingolstadt in Germany, since he was postponed due to the reality of his mother’s death. Consequently Victor’s unbearable sadness over the loss of his mother leads him down the path of insecurity and dejection. Victor's descent into madness begins directly after his mother's death. Prior to his mother's death he led an ideal life as Victor clearly states, "No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. “ (Shelley ch 2) Although Victor continued his studying at the University he starts altering his focus from expanded human knowledge, towards unraveling the ambiguities of animated life. However, the dangers of heedless scientific ambition arise when Victor succeeds in ascertaining the cause of generation and life, and becomes capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter. His mother’s death serves as the catalyst for Victor to experience a psychotic break from reality and begins exploring his forbidden desires ensuing from his arrested development. Victor’s true aspiration to give life is motivated by the yearning to regain his mother, yet his creature becomes instead a mirror of his unconscious mind. In an attempt to explore the unknown, Victor is desperately aiming to procure knowledge beyond his wildest dreams. In spite of this, Victor becomes enthralled with his work contemplating whether acquiring this information will benefit him or turn disastrous. "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 Ch. 4) Evidently, Victor becomes consumed or obsessed with gaining anomalous knowledge that he completely alienates himself from friends and family members leaving little room for anything or anyone. "I have lately been so deeply engaged in one occupation that I have not allowed myself sufficient rest..." (Shelley Ch. 5). Victor works indefatigable with extraordinary devotion to produce life out of dead matter. Victor endeavors to surge beyond "normal" human limits. He wished to solve death. "I collected bones form charnel-houses and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all of the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation: my eyeballs were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment. The dissecting room and the slaughterhouse furnished many of my materials; and often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion." (Shelley. Ch4) Finally after a few years of concentrated effort Victor produces life, though he is not merely disgruntled with his creation. He is utterly appalled by it considering it as a demon or abomination. Almost instantaneously Victor condemns it as a monster and forsakes it right away. One main issue the creature is faced with is his immediate isolation, rejection and abandonment by his creator. He is never given a name or treated equally; he is instantly seen as being a monster and “filthy creation.” (Shelley, 41) After spending countless time creating, Frankenstein made the conscious decision to make the monster large in stature and size. “..I resolved, contrary to my first invention, to make the being of gigantic stature, that is to say, about eight feet in height and proportionately large.” (Shelley, 39-40) He chose to create the creature from stolen, decomposing human body parts from a cemetery and create a monstrously large being but fears the creature once he becomes animated. Ultimately Victor is mortified at what has transpired due to his own actions, giving up his studies and becoming disconsolate. In addition he keeps this a secret hidden from everyone else regarding his failed creation. This pursuit of knowledge proves to be perilous. As a result of making this creature, Victor's acts eventually results in the destruction of everyone and everything he values. His compulsive detestation of the monster costs him his own life in the end. The quest for knowledge is a double-edged sword, on one side the blade can be used to cut the rope that ties humanity back, on the other side it can be, often unknowingly, detrimental to and dangerous to mankind. Without new-found knowledge there is no way humans could advance and in the past it would be impossible for humanity to move forward and create things like a sensible society or any of the technological innovations people have endeavored. However, in many cases the opposite is true and people’s determination to gain knowledge has caused many problems. The search for knowledge can often result in catastrophic events as witnessed in Mary Shelley’s novel. Authored By: Patrick Potts

Resources: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/shelley/mary/s53f/