frankensteinfun-blog

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Annotated Bibliography

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18m5XsMhcD6wUiBCbwhtg8QG2rYN4DTADBsKwwPP1CLg/edit?usp=sharing

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On Playing God....

Oftentimes, we fear the new and unknown aspects of life. When it comes to scientific research like genetic therapy, many believe we cannot change the way nature intends us to be for we would be doing the work of God. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein pushes scientific boundaries by believing he could play the role of God. His motations were anything less than humble. Victor Frankenstein has a grand ego and is driven by divine ambitions in pursuit to change all of mankind (Bond). Moreover, certain individuals in Victor’s life, particularly like M.Waldman, inspired Victor to push further. Without M. Waldman’s guidance, Victor may not have attempted his experiment, “Thus ended a memorable day to me; it decided my future destiny.” (Ch. 3). However, M. Waldman and Victor’s family were unaware of the extent of his research. Victor had to completely isolate himself in his study because he did not want anyone to see what treacherous work he was doing. When Victor first began his work, he only considered the success and praise that would come from his creation’s completion. Victor failed to consider all of the possibilities and potential for great evil as he was too selfish to do so. For example, if others were able to reproduce his experiment, mankind could easily abuse such a practice and completely eliminate the concept of life or death. Victor wanted to manipulate life, and with that came great danger. But this is what Victor wanted, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (Ch. 4). This obsession with life and death turned dark as he engaged in inhumane acts. Victor used the basis of science to mask his true intentions of pure evil. It was a cheap excuse for Victor’s work is not, and never will be, an accurate representation of what real science is.

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Victor’s monster had poor coping mechanisms and released his anger towards mankind in unique ways. Either way, Victor is still the real monster. 

MEME TEMPLATE: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/disaster-girl

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Steal His Laboratory Look!

White Collared Shirt: Gucci $620 w/out tax

Curl Enhancing Smoothie: Walmart $9.39, plus shipping and handling.

Tea Tree Beard Oil:  BeardBrand $25, free shipping with orders over $50

Dirt, dust, and blood: FREE!

Tears of agony: physically free, but emotionally expensive. 

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Pushing boundaries: Good or Bad

Sometimes, we are just products of our environment. Mary Shelley depicted Frankenstein’s setting as one of great influence on the characters and themes present. Moreover, Dr. Stephanie Allen suggests that at the time Frankenstein was written, another scientific revolution was taking place. Therefore, Victor’s love for science and desire to resurrect the dead was fueled by this second scientific revolution. Allen argues that at the time, scientists felt a sense of “limitless possibility” that motivated their studies in both anatomy and biology. Great advances were made, but many questions about morality and the origins of life were raised. In the novella, Victor Frankenstein was aware of the issues with ethical standards and morality raised by science; however, he saw them as an obstruction to his work, “With how many things are we upon the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our enquiries.” (Ch. 4). Eventually, he too became preoccupied with the ambiguous origins of life, “Whence, I often ask myself, did the principle of life proceed?” (Ch. 4). All of the things combined drove Victor to begin his work. Notably, one could not practice science in the way that Victor did with ignoring their morals. While did lose his sanity after the completion of the Creature, Victor was more than dedicated and excited to continue his work when he first began. Victor's lack of a moral compass shows how selfish he truly is and how obsessed he became with his own success.

Additionally, Dr. Allen describes the work of Italian anatomist Giovanni Aldini, who conducted an experiment where he publically sent electrical currents through a corpse of a criminal with no hesitation. Because this experiment is similar to what is portrayed in Frankenstein, Allen believes it could be possible that Mary Shelley was present for this public demonstration or at least read or heard about it, thus inspiring the work of Victor Frankenstein. Furthermore, during this scientific revolution, grave robbing was a huge problem. Scientists, like the fictitious Frankenstein, were willing to collect fresh corpses to further their surgical and anatomical research. One can argue that at the time Frankenstein was written, scientists overall had no morals when conducting their experiments; therefore, Victor was not alone in his monstrosity. Victor Frankenstein was painted in the image of these legitimate scientists who were driven by a selfish need to know more and change mankind eternally.

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science/frankensteins-chemical-roots

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I used to know how to hug I used to know how to love It's simple stuff but now I can't remember I used to laugh all the time But now I'm asking why Why so hard to be a-? Why so hard to be a nice guy? Coulda had a nice life Friendliness went out of style Why so hard to be a nice guy? Coulda had a nice life I can't even fake a smile Why so hard to be a-?

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Victor surely did NOT have his priorities straight.....

MEME TEMPLATE: https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1329056-left-exit-12-off-ramp

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Victor Frankenstein fits perfectly into the “Mad Scientist” category, and is arguably the most popular “Mad Scientist”.  

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/frankenstein/exhibition5.html

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We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.

For some, a focus on personal gain dominates all aspects of life. Whether it be to advance your career or social status, this focus can easily become an unhealthy obsession, taking priority above all else. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley clearly illustrates how Victor became so absorbed by his desire to further his scientific work and the consequences that came with. What Victor sought out to do lacked morals and ignored all ethics, so in the process, he overstepped many boundaries. Victor was so blind to his own wrongdoings and never truly considered what could come from such a deed. Not once did Victor question his proposal to resurrect the dead. Not while collecting body parts from the deceased, not while stitching the cold, lifeless pieces together, and not while bringing life to his monster. He wanted glory from doing something no one had ever attempted before and was willing to do whatever to fulfill this need. But this glory never arrived because of the limits Victor had so ignorantly ignored in the process. Shortly after, the consequences prevailed. Victor fell ill for he had not cared for himself and lost all touch with reality, “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. From this is I had deprived myself of rest and health” (Ch. 5). Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of Victor’s work was the shame he felt afterward. Victor wanted to change modern science in a rampant pursuit of success; however, after catching a glimpse of his living creature, he was shocked and almost disgusted at what he had done, “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing in my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep” (Ch. 5). One can infer that at this point, Victor finally knew what he did was wrong. Fearing judgement, Victor did not speak of the creation he himself made. He was ashamed.  Eventually, Victor’s own creation sought out to ruin the happiness of the one that once brought him to life in that dreary laboratory, “My daily vows rose for revenge-- a deep and deadly revenge, such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish I had endured” (Ch. 16). This revenge is carried out through brutal acts of murder, and as a result, Victor loses what little family and friends he had at the hands of his own creation. In George Griffith’s synopsis of Frankenstein, An Overview of Frankenstein, Griffith describes Victor’s permanent loneliness, “At both the beginning and end of the novel, he is the most alienated figure, alone, in mad pursuit in a desolate spot on the earth”. Victor’s loneliness was only bolstered by his work, tainting his joy until his death. His treacherous acts in a way cursed him, marking Victor as the true monster of the novella.

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Victor was too consumed by his own desires to consider what would come from his questionable research and irrational actions. 

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/504262489509747582/?lp=true