The Conflict between Science and Nature in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Introduction

Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is a famous novel written by Mary Shelley. The novel warns about the misuse of science and relates the phenomenal aspect of scientific disasters with the accidental creation of a monster named Frankenstein as a result of an unsuccessful scientific experiment. The name "Frankenstein", the novel's human protagonist, is often incorrectly used to refer to the monster itself. The novel resonates with philosophical and moral ramifications, creating a conflict between Science and Nature along with the responsibility to cultivate nature themes, the good versus evil, and the social ambition to dominate against readers' attention and consideration of the most sensitive issues of our time.

Discussion

Frankenstein is one of the most acclaimed and thought-provoking stories that warns about scientific research and the “abuse” of scientific processes. Shelley's novel is a metaphor for technology that can cause multiple problems in the modern world. The novel mainly revolves around the dangers associated with the acquisition of knowledge and the happiness of an uninformed or illiterate person who treats his native town as his world (Rauch, p. 227-53). The novel provides hidden praise for a lack of knowledge that can lead to enjoying the simple pleasures of life, rather than indulging oneself in destructive activities with the misuse of knowledge and scientific explanations.

Science is more than facts and principles, which have been accepted on the basis of the knowledge gained by systematic studies. A scientific process is the common pathway, which is the basis for knowledge discovery (Mellor, p. 220-232). The good or bad consequences resulting from scientific knowledge are not the main concerns of scientists, despite the powerful impact of these implications. Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein” shows how knowledge discovery may influence the Earth in an adverse manner, when a scientist does not consider the aftermath of his actions.

In the innovative novel, Mary Shelley notifies a grabbing tale of unimaginable happenings in which several dead body components are conveyed to life through one man's obsession with information and science. Victor Frankenstein becomes engrossed with the concept of conveying life to an inanimate object, but not ever recognizes the obligations he will have to the monster (London, p. 67). Although Victor primarily dedicates a large piece of his life to conceiving his masterpiece, he expends more of his life fearing and battling his monster. Victor seems to disregard any blame he has for his creation and only feels guilt in unleashing such a monster, other than guilt in leaving behind the monster (London, p. 67).

Instead of taking liability for the being he has conveyed to life, Victor wastelands the one-by-one and obscurely changes the blameless animal into a monster. Victor neglects any responsibilities considering his creation and by rejecting him love, learning, and a companion in humanity, Victor keeps the blame for the monster's crimes. The discovery by Victor was not a fully formed human being rather this experiment produced a deformed and defiled creature resembling human ...