Victor Frankenstien
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the character of victor Frankenstein begins his story as a virtuous man who desires to use his education and intelligence to do something good for mankind; to solve man’s greatest problem: death. As he pursues that dream, he begins to believe that he is like God, holding the power of life and death. In his pride, he seeks the admiration and praises of men. And after creating that life, he rejects it, and neglects to teach the creature and the world about each other. Ambitious conceit, pride and neglect bring about the fall of Victor Frankenstein.
Victor Frankenstein was seeking to be like God – a creator and father. “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn.” As he discovered the way to bring a human body back to life he says, rather pridefully, “I was surprised, that among so many men of genius who directed their enquiries towards the same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.” As he wanted to bring an inanimate body back to life, he became so immersed in his work he only ever thought of the glory and honor that would come to him because he had restored life to something that had died. He stopped for a time wondering if he should do this, but he talks himself into it, saying, “I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one simpler organization; 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.” He also seeks the praises of men when he says, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.” It is only after disaster has befallen him that he says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much
Victor Frankenstein was seeking to be like God – a creator and father. “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn.” As he discovered the way to bring a human body back to life he says, rather pridefully, “I was surprised, that among so many men of genius who directed their enquiries towards the same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.” As he wanted to bring an inanimate body back to life, he became so immersed in his work he only ever thought of the glory and honor that would come to him because he had restored life to something that had died. He stopped for a time wondering if he should do this, but he talks himself into it, saying, “I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one simpler organization; 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.” He also seeks the praises of men when he says, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.” It is only after disaster has befallen him that he says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much