Fear of the Power of Science in Frankenstein

Some readers have seen the legend as an illustration of the fear of the bureau of learning. To what finis do you agree with this view of the novel? There are umpteen different tuitions of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818. The traditional reading sees the novel being about a man getting punished by God for crossing his domain. Many different Gothic themes are apply in the novel to create a sense of fear in the audience, not just in the fear of skill but the fear of the power of science and the influence this power has on Victors character. Frankenstein serves as a warning to others of the power of science and creates a sense of fear in the audience. One of the key ways Shelley creates this fear is through the juxtaposing references to nature, helping to serve as a warning. In the midst of Chapter Four, when Victor is engrossed in his work, a paragraph is added describing the beauty and nature around him. Through describing the outside world as beautiful, V ictor is admitting that the world is already beautiful and by ignoring that, he is being ignorant.If Victor had left his house, maybe the beauty of the world could have lifted him out of his depression and stopped the future events. This sense of foreshadowing in the novel creates the sense of fear in the power placed in Victors hands he knows he is wrapped up in his work omit the scenes around me, and through this unhealthy obsession is left with nothing. By adding the beauty of the summer months it further highlights how obsessive Victor had become as time speeds up and months pass within a short section of the novel. The language used in Frankenstein to describe his task is interesting to note.The opposing views end-to-end the novel, adds the retrospective flavour towards the story, as he is telling the story having learnt his lesson. If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste then that study is certainly viciou s. The sense that Victor has learnt from his mistake, creates the interpretation that Frankenstein is a morality tale. Morality tales flourished in the 16th century and were often seen as personifications of good and evil usually manifold in the struggle for a mans soul. Victor, the rotagonist, bay window be seen as a representative of society as a whole, with Victor representing the many scientific discoveries at the time. During the 19th Century, wisdom was controversial as it questioned many fundamental religious beliefs such as Creation and God. Shelley uses the novel of Frankenstein to address the problems with advancements in science and the fundamental consequences of those playing God, thus creating a sense of fear of the power that many were acquiring at the time. The setting is an important feature in Gothic literature and the fact that Victor has isolated himself is influential in the structure of the novel.Victor describes where he works as a solitary chamber or cell implying he has trapped himself there. This fuels his obsession in creating his monster as he has little or no contact with the outside world. The negative interpretation of the room where he works, workshop of filthy creations and slaughter house, creates a dark and creepy atmosphere in the novel, with this use of darkness evident throughout and a key concept in Gothic Literature such as Dracula. The isolation he creates adds a sense of fear not only to science but a fear towards Victor as his obsession could lead to him becoming crazy.Although one could presume that a fear of science is being created, this can be argued. Many would argue that actually it is the fear of the unknown that is evident in Frankenstein. Victor is exploring roughlything that no one has ever through with(p) and thus the path to his discovery, although with good intentions, is flawed. During the 19th Century, the new scientific discoveries were controversial with many going against righteousness. The d escription used such as fire tissue and sizzling light of lightning, reflects Victors experiments with conducting electricity through organisms.During the time, Johann Willhelm Ritter, had done experiments whereby he would pass electricity from metal conductors into frogs legs and this is referred to in the novel. Ketterer says that Shelleys awareness and captivation with the big scientific discoveries of her day is highlighted in the 1831 version of Frankenstein, where Victor asks his father to demonstrate that lightning is electricity. The novel Frankenstein is a response to these scientific advancements acting as a warning to those playing god How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge creating fear in the unknown not just in science.Following on from the fear of the unknown, some would argue that it is also the fear of change in Frankenstein. Religion was a fundamental part of society and many believed that Science was a usurper to Religion and many would still believe that today. In other studies you have gone to where others have gone before. Unlike subjects such as History, Victor believes Science is about change and therefore oversteps the boundaries of discovery it is the reference to the sublimeness of his task that makes this more evident. In scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and peculiarity.The fear not only in the power of science but in the discovery is clear in Frankenstein with continual conflict between the two. The novel describes the ultimate consequence of those attempting to cross two of Gods domains, man and God. Victor creates the monster, which challenges the advancement of technology during the industrial revolution and thus a fear of patience and scientific advancement, not necessarily the direct fear of science. The fear of the power of science is a concept that can be seen clearly in Frankenstein.Although, it can be argued that it is the fear of the unknown or change, the real fear is in the power of Sc ience. Victors obsession with science allows him to feel powerful and thus make mistakes, that when retrospectively telling the story he is able to recount and acknowledge. The power placed in Victors hands when he is able to create life, is last the one to be feared. Shelleys ability to subtly create fear through setting, language and structure is important in creating the fear of the power of science which is crucial in this Gothic text.