“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge”-Plato. In the novel Frankenstein human behavior is evoked from knowledge, or the desire to know. However, to what extent and in what ways is knowledge presented as dangerous and destructive? The novel depicts the theme of destructive knowledge in many aspects of the story, through the actions of the characters. The moral to this is the realization that: knowledge is the inverse of power.
The novel starts with Robert’s quest in search of knowledge,“I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man.”-Page 8; in this quote the author uses very formal diction for example, “ardent” instead of enthusiastic, and “satiate” in …show more content…
During this period of isolation Victor does not once try to contact his friends and family; knowledge “caused me to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time”-Page 53. Victor accomplishes his goal and, “became capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”-Page 49. However, “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”-Page 56. Shelley uses negative connotations ,“horror and disgust”, to prevail a repelled tone. The knowledge and power victor craved brought his world crashing down; “For this I had deprived myself from rest and health.”-Page 56. The knowledge he possesses destroys him; “I felt the bitterness of disappointment: dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space, were now become hell to me”-Page 57. A sympathetic mood is conveyed by the previous quote, as readers feel pity for Frankenstein who turns his dream into is biggest
The novel starts with Robert’s quest in search of knowledge,“I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man.”-Page 8; in this quote the author uses very formal diction for example, “ardent” instead of enthusiastic, and “satiate” in …show more content…
During this period of isolation Victor does not once try to contact his friends and family; knowledge “caused me to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time”-Page 53. Victor accomplishes his goal and, “became capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”-Page 49. However, “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”-Page 56. Shelley uses negative connotations ,“horror and disgust”, to prevail a repelled tone. The knowledge and power victor craved brought his world crashing down; “For this I had deprived myself from rest and health.”-Page 56. The knowledge he possesses destroys him; “I felt the bitterness of disappointment: dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space, were now become hell to me”-Page 57. A sympathetic mood is conveyed by the previous quote, as readers feel pity for Frankenstein who turns his dream into is biggest