Frankenstein and the themes of scientific ambition

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley conceived of Victor Frankenstein as playing God, in much the same way as some individuals today see scientists who are seeking to discover things which they consider best left undiscovered and mysterious. Victor is in fact for Shelley, the conception of all that is potentially bad about science, but most specifically all that is potentially bad about secularizing morality and playing God with knowledge and action a very stark danger of science. The preface of the work demonstrates the idea that reanimation of life, in this passage "the event" has been supposed to be possible by modern scientists of the day and therefore the author stresses that it is not so fanciful as just to have been based on a supernatural idea.

THE EVENT on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence.... yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the interest of the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere tale of spectres or enchantment.

Shelley 5)

The idea of reanimation of life had been brought to the publics attention through science and therefore cannot be supposed to simply be one of pure imagination, as it is clear that this time that the dark nature of science was in fact (according to the novice) seeking such a reality and years of social fear of such events culminated to make the story entirely gripping to the reader.

This work expresses that the darkest days of science were at hand and in fact many believe that these events could have occurred, at least in attempt during a period where medical science was a paying a high premium to grave robbers to bring them the freshest of human bodies to dissect and discover. The work, in my opinion in fact played upon old fears of the supernatural, such as the digging up and reburying of corpses, in some mutilated form, especially in cases where the deceased looked "fresh" and could have then been recently stalking the living as a vampire.

Later in the work, as the monster becomes personified Shelley actually has the monster ask the scientist why he would deem to make such a joke. He asks why he was created, against his will to be a specter of human existence, completely unable to live as a living man and he asks for a companion so he might go and live out the remainder of his days away from man and in peace. When Frankenstein refuses him this he seeks to convince him through reason.

You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and, instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces, and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts, and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands.

Shelley 123)

Frankenstein had created him, as God created man in the image of himself, capable of reason and feeling and this feeling was met with misery when he was rejected by every living thing he met.

Though, Frankenstein's refusal to make the beast a female companion is the most logical answer for the story, as Frankenstein has finally begun to understand the enormity of his poor scientific deed, and making yet another monster would be foolish the reason of the fiend is solid as because he was made of man he must have society and living society has rejected him. I believe that the most logical solution for the beast was for Frankenstein to be the "victor" and kill the beast. Yet, this solution alluded him and the science of it is curious at best. If you reanimate dead flesh then how do you kill it?

Victor, on his death bed, intones to his new friend the Captain of the discovery vessel that ambition in science should be kept in check, even if that means death in anonymity. He first intones that he regrets that he is dying while the beast still lives and then warns the captain to keep his ambition in check.

That he should live to be an instrument of mischief disturbs me; in other respects, this hour, when I momentarily expect my release, is the only happy one which I have enjoyed for several years. The forms of the beloved dead flit before me and I hasten to their arms. Farewell, Walton! Seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed."

Shelley 185)

Fear of ambition was not new but natural sciences were eking away at discoveries that were fearful to many and many were being sacrificed in the process, such as the men who died of exposure on the fictitious trip to the north conceived of by Shelley in the form of the captain's exhibition.

In my opinion, the two interlinking stories are significant as one warns the other more novice scientist of the deathbed regrets he would have if he continued to live by scientific ambition. The Captain is seeking to discover the undiscovered and that place is inhospitable to man and therefore should remain a mystery to him.

I had determined, if you were going southward, still to trust myself to the mercy of the seas rather than abandon my purpose. I hoped to induce you to grant me a boat with which I could pursue my enemy. But your direction was northward....I should soon have sunk under my multiplied hardships into a death which I still dread -- for my task is unfulfilled.

Shelley 177)

Neither man fulfilled his destiny and this is as it should be, but the beast still lived, as a metaphor for continuation of the dangerous science that Shelley based her entire work upon.

Shelley 14) Victor, set aside the superstitions of man, and the kinder sciences of natural history and the like to foreshadow the disaster that would become his despicable legacy.