Frankenstein Essay Research Paper Mary Shelley

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

corruption and evil. The gigantic stature of this creature can also be viewed as a symbol

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.