Frankenstein Essay, Research Paper
Mary Shelley Frankenstein is filled with various underlying themes, the crux
being the effect society has on The Creature personality. In fact, the ethical debate
concerning biotechnological exploration into genetic cloning has created a monster in
itself. A multitude of ethical questions arises when considering the ramifications of
creating a genetically engineered human being. Does man or science have the right to
create life through unnatural means? Should morality dictate these technological
advancements and their effects on society? The questions and concerns are infinite, but so
to are the curiosities, which continue to perpetuate the advancement of biotechnological
science.
In literature, Mary Shelley Frankenstein serves as bio-ethical exhortation for
today technological advances in genetic cloning. Mary Shelley Frankenstein provides
a
clear distinction between the theoretical grandeur of man ability to scientifically author
life and the stark reality, which it encompasses. Shelley prophetically illustrates some of
the potential hazards of breaking through the barrier that separates man from God. Her
insight allows the reader to trace these reputations through Victor Frankenstein, the
monster, and eventually society.
The character of Victor Frankenstein illustrates the path of destruction scientists
can create when ignoring their moral community. Victor was so impassioned with his
life work that he has lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit. Frankenstein
blinding ambition prevented him from seeing the potential consequences of his actions
until it was too late. The first sign of Victor fatal flaw of egotism is that he forgets his
bond to nature and to the people he loves. new species would bless me as its creator
and source; many happy and excellent natures would own their being to me.?(933). His
absence of moral judgement is the catalyst for what becomes the demise of the creature,
society and ironically himself. It would be years before Victor fully realized that his
neglect of moral obligation to the creature and society had unleashed a hideous monster
that would eventually destroy his society as revenge for the monster sense of
abandonment. shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose
selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of
the whole human race.?(1000)
Frankenstein led by the desire to widen human knowledge finds that fulfillment of
his lofty ambition has brought only a curse to mankind. The monster created by
Frankenstein is also an illustration of the embodied consequences of our actions. Mary
Shelley uses the monster to show that everything born pure in this world is susceptible to
of the enormous perils found in creating life outside of natural bounds. Although the
creature received a moral and intellectual education, the lack of a nurturing,
companionship and acceptance from society led him to reject morality and replace it with
evil. had cast off all feeling, subdued all anguish, to riot in the excess of my despair.
Evil thenceforth became my good. Urged thus far, I had no choice but to adapt my nature
to an element which I had willingly chosen. The completion of my demoniacal design
became an insatiable passion.?(1032)
The hideous monstrosity goes on to claim his murderous ways are justified because
of his inability to find happiness in this human world. verywhere I see bliss, from which
I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a friend.?
(960). The monster acts of revenge for his miserable existence displays a cold
calculating
presence of evil completely devoid of moral decency. Thought the existence of the
creature is unnatural and immoral, the behavior of this hideous monster further escalates
the dangers of man playing god. The senseless murder of Victor Frankenstein friend
and
family was Mary Shelley way of suggesting to society that they could all become victims
of scientists like Frankenstein, who unnaturally create potential monsters.
Until recently, Mary Shelley Frankenstein was viewed as a brilliant work of
fiction, now the messages in her writings warrant substantial consideration from a
bio-ethical standpoint. The act of scientists breaching the domain of human creation is no
longer confined to fiction. The bio-ethical dilemma that haunted Victor Frankenstein in
Mary Shelley work of fiction has ironically found its way to modern science.
Geneticists
are now on the verge of extracting the secret of creating life from human DNA specimens
in hopes to artificially recreate human beings. This biotechnological advancement has
come to be known as cloning. Scientists should heed the words of Mary Shelley, because
a cloned society could evolve into a race of evil and destruction. Geneticists must also
exercise extreme caution in their advancement in genetic cloning because we cannot fully
comprehend the detrimental effects it will have on society. The golden rule states that we
should o unto others as you would have them do unto you? which translates into
treating each person as an individual rather than as a means to some end. Under this
moral precept we should turn away from human cloning, because it inevitably entails using
humans as means to other humans?ends. A utilitarian ethic must be adopted at the
expense of individual freedoms when considering Mary Shelley exhortations in
Frankenstein.