Dangerously knowledge is a prominently seen theme in Frankenstein. In Frankenstein we see the search for leaving and knowledge in three major characters, Victor, Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and the creature. From the beginning of time until now the limitless pursuit of knowledge reveals man’s weakness. Modern society provides humans with a wide variety of sources on how to gain knowledge, both good and evil. Frankenstein is a very complicated and complex story that challenges different ethics and morals on the apparent theme of dangerous knowledge.
Shelly causes her reader to ultimately ask themselves what price is too high to pay to gain knowledge. It is evident that Shelly allows the reader to sort of “wonder” about the reaction they would take when dealing with a situation such as the one implemented throughout the book. Shelly supports her opinion about knowledge by using references from the Bible and Paradise Lost. She uses these references to show the relationship between God’s Adam and Frankenstein creature, and hoe nothing turns out as great as God’s creation. Shelly achieves her goal of informing the audience that man should not seek or possess the level of knowledge that God acquires.
Through Victor’s new-found knowledge and discoveries, he becomes obsessed with making a human being such a human that it should be a perfect creature in size and in strength. But Frankenstein is not the only human who is pursuing knowledge that could prove to be dangerous. Robert Walton desires to surpass all exploration by humans and reach the North Pole; which at the time, sounded ridiculous impossible just as the same as Frankenstein’s pursuits. He does this as he learned, through what he saw in Frankenstein, the dangers of knowledge.
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The creature is also a character who we see yearn for knowledge that proves too dangerous. The creature tries to fit in and be like other humans. The monster hopes to gain knowledge in hopes of no longer being ignored or rejected and beaten on and attacked by society for the way he is. The theme of dangerous knowledge in Frankenstein presents that, under most circumstances, the search for knowledge is encouraged. “If one shuns their knowledge, it can lead to self-destruction not only to one’s self but also to everyone around them.” Before Victor died his words were “I trod in heaven in my thoughts, now exulting in my powers now living with the idea of their effects. This is evidence that Victor walked the path he shouldn’t have which is the path God walked.
References
- CliffsNotes: Frankenstein Book Summary
- Shmoop: Knowledge and Wisdom Quotes in Frankenstein
- Responsibility and Dangerous Knowledge in Frankenstein and the Modern World
- Prezi: Dangerous Knowledge in Frankenstein
- Literary Litcharts: The Theme of Dangerous Knowledge in Frankenstein
- Course Hero: Themes in Frankenstein
