Knowledge Is Power In Frankenstein

Undeniable principles can be expressed succinctly because no argument is necessary. Francis Bacon seemed to recognize this when he stated, “Knowledge is power,” as did Spider Man creator Stan Lee, at arguably the other end of the literary spectrum, when Peter Parker’s uncle reminded the accidental superhero that “[w]ith great power comes great responsibility.” These axioms merge in Immanuel Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?” and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to caution their readers about the care with which knowledge should be exercised; however, the overriding theme of each work also serves as a counterbalance to the other. While Kant primarily presents a wake-up call to the public to overcome their fear, complacency and blind obedience in order
Victor’s creation goes to great lengths to acquire knowledge and interact with people, and these experiences only further increase his desire to learn. He observes what is entailed in being human and expends his energy attempting to assimilate, as he “makes use of the same instructions” given to a stranger as she “endeavored to learn their language” and came to “admire virtue and good feelings and love gentle manners and amiable qualities” (Shelley 95). The underlying motivation for the creature’s search for knowledge is his hope for acceptance. His focus is emotional, not scientific, but the process is painful and fails when he is neglected and attacked by society for his hideous appearance. Ironically, Victor’s newborn, cobbled-together creature comes to realize the disadvantages of knowledge before his master, stating, “I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge” (Shelley 96). Had he remained in the “native wood,” for which he now longed, he would have never known what it meant or felt like to be hungry, thirsty, or mournful (Shelly 96). He would not have developed that capability to understand the pain of abandonment or rejection. However, having expanded his mind and acquired wisdom, he now possesses the capacity to perceive and suffer. As a result, he felt compelled to seek revenge, becoming violent and destroying the lives of many people. Again, the theme of dangerous knowledge presented by Shelley challenges the encouragement of the search for knowledge espoused so strongly by Kant. The creature’s quest for knowledge led him to discover damaging and hurtful information that he did not have the capacity to process, resulting in his and others’ destruction. Kant might encourage the monster to move past the obstacles and uncertainties, disregard the