In the eighteenth century, romanticism bloomed from men’s love towards nature. To capture its beauty, romanticists often wrote novels stressing emotions and portraying nature as a pure soul. While nature represented an innocent girl, science imitated a reaper that violates nature’s boundaries. Romantic novels then recorded the battles between logic and feelings. These novels, for example, Frankenstein, a Gothic novel written by Mary Shelley, exposes the unethicality of knowledge by describing the monstrous effects of scientific advancements. In Frankenstein, Shelley flashbacks on a horrific image she envisaged after she overhears a scientific conversation. In the dream, a scientist reanimates a putrid corpse that eventually terrorizes the world.
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Violation of natural laws questions the moral and purpose of an action. For instance, the monster’s birth as a mistake demands creature’s purpose of existence. Born in a hideous look, the monster suffers from the cottagers and society’s rejection. Disappointed and furious, it charges through the forest in search of a safe place and rages, “Cursed, cursed creator! why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed” (121). Although Frankenstein shopped for the best body parts from the cemetery, the supposedly “perfect” parts give birth to a dreadful monster. As a creation, the monster bears no right over his physical appearance, future, or anything. Other creation such as Satan never begged for specific characteristics upon birth. God knowingly sprinkles arrogance in making Satan, yet Satan lost his paradise because of hubris. Scientific advancement allows unethical birth that defies natural laws and imitates nature. In modern day, advanced medical technologies neglects and takes over nature’s role. Advanced techniques allow gene modification in designer babies and cloning. The babies never asked for a certain way to grow. Similarly, the sheep never imagined or hoped for a reflection that thinks and acts the same way. As a result of these unethicality, creations suffer in agony. During the time …show more content…
Shelley engraves malevolent images to alert man from falling into its trap. Tired of the unfair treatments, the monster seeks revenge and promises revenge. During Frankenstein and Elizabeth’s honeymoon, the monster brutally drags Elizabeth down to hell. Kneeling by Elizabeth’s corpse, Frankenstein griefs, “Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature of earth? She was there, lifeless and inanimate” (173). Throughout the book, Shelley acts as nature’s messenger to prevent Frankenstein from falling into the trap. Elizabeth’s death symbolizes defeat of nature in the hands of scientists. Through Elizabeth’s death, Shelley suggests scientific progress, over time, suppresses natural order and replaces emotions with enervation. In fact progress causes everyone to plunge into despair. Regretting his decision, the monster solemnly remorses. On the ice raft, the monster glares at Frankenstein’s frozen body and laments, “Soon these burning miseries will be extinct . . . The light of that conflagration will fade away” (197). Frankenstein’s creation creates devastation and miseries. As a result, he kills everyone indirectly by creating the monster. Eventually, he sickens from losing his family and lover and collapses. The clamorous effect of the monster’s birth illuminates the path to hell paved by science and glory. Shelley concludes the pursuit of knowledge
Violation of natural laws questions the moral and purpose of an action. For instance, the monster’s birth as a mistake demands creature’s purpose of existence. Born in a hideous look, the monster suffers from the cottagers and society’s rejection. Disappointed and furious, it charges through the forest in search of a safe place and rages, “Cursed, cursed creator! why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed” (121). Although Frankenstein shopped for the best body parts from the cemetery, the supposedly “perfect” parts give birth to a dreadful monster. As a creation, the monster bears no right over his physical appearance, future, or anything. Other creation such as Satan never begged for specific characteristics upon birth. God knowingly sprinkles arrogance in making Satan, yet Satan lost his paradise because of hubris. Scientific advancement allows unethical birth that defies natural laws and imitates nature. In modern day, advanced medical technologies neglects and takes over nature’s role. Advanced techniques allow gene modification in designer babies and cloning. The babies never asked for a certain way to grow. Similarly, the sheep never imagined or hoped for a reflection that thinks and acts the same way. As a result of these unethicality, creations suffer in agony. During the time …show more content…
Shelley engraves malevolent images to alert man from falling into its trap. Tired of the unfair treatments, the monster seeks revenge and promises revenge. During Frankenstein and Elizabeth’s honeymoon, the monster brutally drags Elizabeth down to hell. Kneeling by Elizabeth’s corpse, Frankenstein griefs, “Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature of earth? She was there, lifeless and inanimate” (173). Throughout the book, Shelley acts as nature’s messenger to prevent Frankenstein from falling into the trap. Elizabeth’s death symbolizes defeat of nature in the hands of scientists. Through Elizabeth’s death, Shelley suggests scientific progress, over time, suppresses natural order and replaces emotions with enervation. In fact progress causes everyone to plunge into despair. Regretting his decision, the monster solemnly remorses. On the ice raft, the monster glares at Frankenstein’s frozen body and laments, “Soon these burning miseries will be extinct . . . The light of that conflagration will fade away” (197). Frankenstein’s creation creates devastation and miseries. As a result, he kills everyone indirectly by creating the monster. Eventually, he sickens from losing his family and lover and collapses. The clamorous effect of the monster’s birth illuminates the path to hell paved by science and glory. Shelley concludes the pursuit of knowledge