Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s world-famous book, Frankenstein, says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge…” (Shelley 38). The pursuit of knowledge has lead many down a long and desolate path. Frankenstein warns of gaining too much knowledge because through his attempts he has learned of the consequences. Knowledge opens the door to endless possibilities but many people don't understand the consequences of gaining so much knowledge. Through the analysis of several of several literary works, we are able to look at the consequences of pursuing such great knowledge. By dissecting the motives of different characters in several novels, the reader is taught that a radical
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For instance, every Black Friday there are millions of people that go against all their common sense and go berserk over the fact that a tv is at a discounted price. Their actions cause thousands of people to become injured and lead to destruction only because they had learned that there were better prices than what they were used too. From knowledge arise problems and people began to question and defy what is good and orderly. In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Adam and Eve make the irreversible mistake of eating from the tree of knowledge. Once Eve eats the fruit she “...grows mature/ In knowledge, as the gods who all things know” (Milton, Book IX, ll 803-804). Eating the fruit gives Eve knowledge that God had intentionally forbid because the greed and lust of man may lead his perfect creations to destructive actions. Her pursuit causes her to lose vision of the perfect world they live in because her innocence is gone, and now she can see all the evils in the world. She would have been better off in Eden where she was ignorant and peaceful, but to truly appreciate the beauty around her, Eve would need to be able to see the evil around her. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein desires the same kind of knowledge that had corrupts Eve. In Frankenstein, both characters, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton, have the same ideology involving how One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of knowledge which I sought…” (Shelley 12). Frankenstein’s search for knowledge and creating the Creature lead him down a dark and desolate path, unlike the flawless life which he previously had. His creation is responsible for the death of four people including his wife and brother which could have been avoided if not relentlessly searching for knowledge. Before his
For instance, every Black Friday there are millions of people that go against all their common sense and go berserk over the fact that a tv is at a discounted price. Their actions cause thousands of people to become injured and lead to destruction only because they had learned that there were better prices than what they were used too. From knowledge arise problems and people began to question and defy what is good and orderly. In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Adam and Eve make the irreversible mistake of eating from the tree of knowledge. Once Eve eats the fruit she “...grows mature/ In knowledge, as the gods who all things know” (Milton, Book IX, ll 803-804). Eating the fruit gives Eve knowledge that God had intentionally forbid because the greed and lust of man may lead his perfect creations to destructive actions. Her pursuit causes her to lose vision of the perfect world they live in because her innocence is gone, and now she can see all the evils in the world. She would have been better off in Eden where she was ignorant and peaceful, but to truly appreciate the beauty around her, Eve would need to be able to see the evil around her. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein desires the same kind of knowledge that had corrupts Eve. In Frankenstein, both characters, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton, have the same ideology involving how One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of knowledge which I sought…” (Shelley 12). Frankenstein’s search for knowledge and creating the Creature lead him down a dark and desolate path, unlike the flawless life which he previously had. His creation is responsible for the death of four people including his wife and brother which could have been avoided if not relentlessly searching for knowledge. Before his