What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein does the unthinkable. Using his vast knowledge in science, he successfully brings life to an inanimate object. Although this is a great accomplishment, Frankenstein commits several crimes during his process which interfere with religion, along with the idea of God. Religion, during the 1800s, is a crucial part of life, as it gives people hope and something to believe in. Everyone during the 1800s follows religion and believes in an almighty God. Frankenstein digs up graves, puts science before God, and even wants to be the God of his own species, all of which are in no way religiously correct. In addition, Frankenstein’s experiment backfires as the …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein has a strong interest in science. After years of studying, he realizes he wants to focus on anatomy, the scientific study of the body, Victor becomes interested in re-animation. After years of success in the anatomy department, Victor claims, “I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organisation; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man” (54). Victor feels overconfident in his ability to make life, not thinking about any of the mistakes or consequences that can and does happen. Victor proclaims himself ready to create life, and digs up graveyards and visits slaughterhouses to obtain his required materials. Victor’s unethical actions contradicts religion, as Victor is tampering with life and death, when God is the only one who does. Victor is also grave robbing, which means he is desecrating the corpses, and he should not mess with anything sacred. Victor is also using animal parts from the slaughterhouse to create a human, which is morally wrong. Victor’s motive behind creating life is also quite unethical. Victor hopes to become the God of a new species. Victor explains, “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our …show more content…
The monster proceeds to harm others close to Victor as a form of revenge after it tells Victor, “I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create” (146). After having second thoughts, Victor does not complete the creation of a female monster for his first creation and, as a result, the monster murders Henry Clerval, Victor’s best friend, and Elizabeth, Victor’s bride. By choosing not to complete the second monster, Victor makes his first creation upset, guaranteeing the murder of his family. Once again, the monster does not think of murder as “wrong,” he only wants to have Victor’s attention. When Victor sets off to find the monster once and for all, the monster gives him clues along the way. Victor never does find his creation, and his ambition to do so leads him to die as Walton tells, “Äbout half an hour afterwards he attempted again to speak but was unable; he pressed my hand feebly, and his eyes closed forever” (220). Victor, after years of searching for the monster, dies from illness in the midst of chasing his creation. His ambition goes too far and leads to his death. Victor, for his dishonesty and over-eager ambition, is responsible for all the deaths in the novel, including his
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein does the unthinkable. Using his vast knowledge in science, he successfully brings life to an inanimate object. Although this is a great accomplishment, Frankenstein commits several crimes during his process which interfere with religion, along with the idea of God. Religion, during the 1800s, is a crucial part of life, as it gives people hope and something to believe in. Everyone during the 1800s follows religion and believes in an almighty God. Frankenstein digs up graves, puts science before God, and even wants to be the God of his own species, all of which are in no way religiously correct. In addition, Frankenstein’s experiment backfires as the …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein has a strong interest in science. After years of studying, he realizes he wants to focus on anatomy, the scientific study of the body, Victor becomes interested in re-animation. After years of success in the anatomy department, Victor claims, “I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organisation; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man” (54). Victor feels overconfident in his ability to make life, not thinking about any of the mistakes or consequences that can and does happen. Victor proclaims himself ready to create life, and digs up graveyards and visits slaughterhouses to obtain his required materials. Victor’s unethical actions contradicts religion, as Victor is tampering with life and death, when God is the only one who does. Victor is also grave robbing, which means he is desecrating the corpses, and he should not mess with anything sacred. Victor is also using animal parts from the slaughterhouse to create a human, which is morally wrong. Victor’s motive behind creating life is also quite unethical. Victor hopes to become the God of a new species. Victor explains, “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our …show more content…
The monster proceeds to harm others close to Victor as a form of revenge after it tells Victor, “I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create” (146). After having second thoughts, Victor does not complete the creation of a female monster for his first creation and, as a result, the monster murders Henry Clerval, Victor’s best friend, and Elizabeth, Victor’s bride. By choosing not to complete the second monster, Victor makes his first creation upset, guaranteeing the murder of his family. Once again, the monster does not think of murder as “wrong,” he only wants to have Victor’s attention. When Victor sets off to find the monster once and for all, the monster gives him clues along the way. Victor never does find his creation, and his ambition to do so leads him to die as Walton tells, “Äbout half an hour afterwards he attempted again to speak but was unable; he pressed my hand feebly, and his eyes closed forever” (220). Victor, after years of searching for the monster, dies from illness in the midst of chasing his creation. His ambition goes too far and leads to his death. Victor, for his dishonesty and over-eager ambition, is responsible for all the deaths in the novel, including his