Frankenstein

Amrutha Shrivathsa
Question 1: Victor attributes his tragic fate to his relentless pursuit of knowledge. Do you think this is the true cause of his suffering? In what ways does the novel represent the ideas made by scientific and Enlightenment discourses as dangerous and destructive
Frankenstein, a gothic novel written by Mary Shelley centres around an ambitious scientist, Victor Frankenstein and his pursuit of knowledge, narrated in the perspective of Robert Walton, an explorer determined to be the first to reach the North Pole. Victor’s true cause of suffering is not just the unexpected consequences of his failed experiments to bring the dead back to life, but his abandonment of the creature and his moral responsibility towards it. The novel represents a critique of the discoveries and ideas made by scientific and enlightenment discourse; (the pursuit for knowledge of the creation of humans) as dangerous and destructive, through the characterisation of Victor Frankenstein and his quest for knowledge, leading to his demise and Robert Walton’s almost suicidal attempt to reach the North Pole. The creature’s presence in the novel warns against the consequences of the pursuit of scientific knowledge with no responsibility or moral obligation towards the end result

Victor Frankenstein’s true cause of suffering is his failure to consider the moral implications of his actions in his reckless pursuit of knowledge. Victor believes that his suffering is punishment from the creature and god for his extensive pursuit of knowledge. In my opinion it is in fact his lack of moral obligation towards the creature and his failure to contemplate the consequence that causes his suffering and guilt.   He acknowledges that his lack of knowledge of the consequences is his true cause of suffering when he says:
“Seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.”
Victor recognises...