Natural Philosophy In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
An interest in life and death sparked by reading about natural philosophy is only enhanced when Frankenstein’s father condemns him for wasting his time on such “sad trash” (23). The rebellious Frankenstein becomes completely obsessed with this passion and sacrifices his well being in search of building a new foundation in science where humans own God’s power to activate a body. Frankenstein is convinced that putting this power in the hands of humans is something he must execute. This obsession drove him to outgrow his education and after tireless research and devout studying Victor begins his new occupation. Victor Frankenstein’s desire to bring life to a lifeless corpse causes him to lose himself in order to achieve fame and glory.
Fascinated
by the concepts of life and death Frankenstein devoted hours on end to discover the secret that would give him the power to generate life. An exhausting effort, “gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful labor, to arrive at the summit of desires was the most gratifying consummation of my toils.” (34). Frankenstein’s rapture and delight from uncovering the evasive secret of creating life displays his overall commitment to earning his dream. He believes his painful labor will result in what will turn into a breaking point in science where humans can create life. Frankenstein’s desires are conducted without any ethical thinking in which he considers all the possible outcomes of not only completing, but sharing his discovery. Frankenstein is preoccupied with bringing his desires to life that he blinds himself from seeing what his uncoverings will result in. His isolation takes him out of touch with society where he does not recognize that he is taking God’s natural power away and would be giving it to unworthy people that cannot control their own desires.
Frankenstein is entirely caught up in the process of creating life that once he reaches his goal and actually has the power Frankenstein “hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it.” (35). Victor Frankenstein’s hesitation demonstrates that he has become possessed by the ritual of learning about death, life and their causes that once he was able to understand how they worked and how he could artificially create life that he was not sure what his next step would be. Frankenstein continuously exhibits that he is blinded by his desire to bring life to a lifeless object. Victor’s confusion in which direction he must turn to also shows that there is he has no true method he is moving forward without clear vision and once he realizes what he is truly capable of it will be too late.
Frankenstein is in such a rush to reach a final result that he fails to take care of himself in the process. When Frankenstein reaches the moment he has been waiting for and brings the creature to life, “I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously, and fell down in a fit.” (43). Frankenstein deprived himself of companionship, rest, and true joy outside of accomplishing work related tasks. He adds to the fog that continues to hinder him from accurately measuring his actions. When the monster seizes Frankenstein and he struggles furiously he describes his approach to creating the monster. The entire approach seizes him where he gets to the point that he loses track of his motivation and what he should perform next with the power of God. He struggles to figure out how to create a body that he can give life to just as he struggles to intertwine a happy and healthy lifestyle with of his work rather than work being the only thing his life revolves around.
Frankenstein’s dedication to achieving his goals is admirable however, he loses himself in his perseverance to activate a corpse. Although Frankenstein ultimately completes his original goal he is continuously blinded himself from what he was truly doing. Victor is unable to allow himself simple pleasures outside of work which consumed every waking hour and free moment to contemplate. Victor Frankenstein demonstrates a perfect downward spiral in which the accomplishment of his dreams leads to the demise of his future.
Fascinated
by the concepts of life and death Frankenstein devoted hours on end to discover the secret that would give him the power to generate life. An exhausting effort, “gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful labor, to arrive at the summit of desires was the most gratifying consummation of my toils.” (34). Frankenstein’s rapture and delight from uncovering the evasive secret of creating life displays his overall commitment to earning his dream. He believes his painful labor will result in what will turn into a breaking point in science where humans can create life. Frankenstein’s desires are conducted without any ethical thinking in which he considers all the possible outcomes of not only completing, but sharing his discovery. Frankenstein is preoccupied with bringing his desires to life that he blinds himself from seeing what his uncoverings will result in. His isolation takes him out of touch with society where he does not recognize that he is taking God’s natural power away and would be giving it to unworthy people that cannot control their own desires.
Frankenstein is entirely caught up in the process of creating life that once he reaches his goal and actually has the power Frankenstein “hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it.” (35). Victor Frankenstein’s hesitation demonstrates that he has become possessed by the ritual of learning about death, life and their causes that once he was able to understand how they worked and how he could artificially create life that he was not sure what his next step would be. Frankenstein continuously exhibits that he is blinded by his desire to bring life to a lifeless object. Victor’s confusion in which direction he must turn to also shows that there is he has no true method he is moving forward without clear vision and once he realizes what he is truly capable of it will be too late.
Frankenstein is in such a rush to reach a final result that he fails to take care of himself in the process. When Frankenstein reaches the moment he has been waiting for and brings the creature to life, “I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously, and fell down in a fit.” (43). Frankenstein deprived himself of companionship, rest, and true joy outside of accomplishing work related tasks. He adds to the fog that continues to hinder him from accurately measuring his actions. When the monster seizes Frankenstein and he struggles furiously he describes his approach to creating the monster. The entire approach seizes him where he gets to the point that he loses track of his motivation and what he should perform next with the power of God. He struggles to figure out how to create a body that he can give life to just as he struggles to intertwine a happy and healthy lifestyle with of his work rather than work being the only thing his life revolves around.
Frankenstein’s dedication to achieving his goals is admirable however, he loses himself in his perseverance to activate a corpse. Although Frankenstein ultimately completes his original goal he is continuously blinded himself from what he was truly doing. Victor is unable to allow himself simple pleasures outside of work which consumed every waking hour and free moment to contemplate. Victor Frankenstein demonstrates a perfect downward spiral in which the accomplishment of his dreams leads to the demise of his future.