In the quote from “Education in Frankenstein” by Hillary Englert it describes the character development of Victor, Walton, and the Monster which she believes is due to a self-guided education and passion for knowledge. Englert’s quote provides insight to the principles of the character’s development each with a different way of implementing their intellectual curiosities for their personal self-fulfillment. Each character desires to explore new ideas, seek pleasure from knowledge, and in their limitless imagination each of our archetypes the freedom to think, interpret, and explore what impassions them. First example is Victor who’s passion for knowledge is evident in a simile which captures the essence of his character when he says “Of …show more content…
However, Victor did not feel compelled to nurture thus his quote highlights his desire to “shake off all thought and feeling” (Shelley 102). In the case of Walton, his self-guided education is provoked by a sense of curiosity and adventure after reading letters and book about voyages in his Uncle Thomas’s library. Without a formal education, Walton becomes a pleasure seeker and regards himself with high esteem, impassioned by a sense of adventure. Walton goes on expeditions to the North Sea with the idea to reach a place where no other man has stepped. In a quote Walton says “But success shall crown my endeavors” (Shelley 7) and this quote fulfills Englert’s accusation of being self-governed and his desire for boundless grandeur of reaching a place where no other man stepped. Again, Englert distinguishes an informal education as being the primary catalyst to accomplish his goal of self- fulfillment rather than responsibility. Last, the monster fulfills Englert’s assertion of a “passionate intellectual curiosity” since the monster is completely unhindered by any formal education. When the monster finds some books, it opens a new world of thinking expressing his emotions when he says, “I can hardly describe to you the
In Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the creature 's acquisition of knowledge leads to his diversion from benevolence to pure hatred towards mankind. The works of Victor Frankenstein, the monster was created by old body parts and strange chemicals, animated by a spark making him come to life. The Creature enters life as an eight-foot giant only to have been created with the intellect of a newborn. Abandoned by his creator and confused, the Creature attempts to integrate himself into society only to be shunned away in disgust by humanity. The Creature then makes his way and lives next to a human family which is essentially the start for the creatures detestation towards humanity.
For the longest time now I have been afraid of heights. Every time that I’m not on the ground I get nervous. One time I was in the city with my family and we were in a really tall building, and we went all the way to the top. There was about 80 floors. I was on the top looking out the glass window, when I looked down I was so afraid that I was going to fall.
He devotes himself to his studies, pushing his intelligence to the utmost, using his brains for an idea those around him think is bonkers” ("Victor Frankenstein Character Traits & Analysis"). This quote explains that at one point he was the top learner in college. This much intelligence makes him devote himself to his studies and
Throughout the story Mary Shelley presents the idea of knowledge and how much of it Victor Frankenstein has. This enormous supply of intelligence will have a consequence on the product of his scientific actions. Frankenstein has been engrossed
Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned” (138). Through the knowledge he acquired from spying in on the Felix family, he gained the understanding that his grotesque look doomed him to be marginalized within human society; therefore, his understanding of human history destined himself to be a monster. Although, this self-realization of a monster identity plays a huge role in the general plot and character development of Frankenstein’s Monster, it hints at a subtler interpretation of the nature of knowledge.
Character Foils: Victor and The Monster Often in a literary work, authors use minor characters to emphasize specific traits and characteristics of a main character. In Mary Shelley’s best selling novel Frankenstein, the monster is a minor reflection of Victor Frankenstein. Victor’s personality traits from when he was a child, and as an adult, are carried over and placed into his creation unintentionally by Victor himself.
(Shelley, 82). This letter further demonstrates Captain Walton’s ambition for seeking pure knowledge. The character of Victor endeavors through his journey in order to find
Kyle Lyon Professor Ed Steck AWR 201 F3 14 April 2015 Annotated Bibliography Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. Hunter, Paul J. Norton Critical Edition.
The monster in “Frankenstein” very much reflects both The Enlightenment and what it means to be enlightened. Starting with The Enlightenment, although the monster did not attend formal schooling, he was an avid
It is often said that the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know. Even Aristotle said, “The more you know, the more you know you don 't know.”. This can often lead to a yearning for more knowledge and sometimes, can be somebody’s downfall. In this case, it was Victor Frankenstein’s downfall. His love for science and his ever-growing quest to learn about the human body ultimately destroyed him, his family, his wife to be, and his best friend.
As Frank Herbert once said: “ Too much knowledge never makes for simple decisions.” This reigns true not only in Frankenstein, But also in everyday life. Coincidentally, learning too much can bring misery and dangers into your life. We can see this in scientists, like Victor, they learn too much knowledge and become mad, crazy, hurtful people. Knowledge like most things is good in moderation, when knowing too much, we become people who are darker and more wretched than our original
Knowledge can be Blessings and Curse A teenage girl Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein in the 18th century. A Gothic novel Frankenstein deals with two genres, Gothicism and science fiction. Victor, one of Mary Shelly’s characters represents man’s pursuit of knowledge which ultimately leads towards the path of destruction while another character Robert Walton implemented his knowledge wisely to get benefits for the society. Mary is indicating to the society that mankind has to pay full attention to science and scientific innovations in order to avoid the catastrophic events due to misuse of knowledge.
Dangerous Minds- Rough Draft Knowledge has the capability to be used for both good and evil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there is a consistent message throughout the novel showing the dangerous and destructive power that knowledge can have. Two key characters, Victor Frankenstein and his monster, are shaped through their obsessions with knowledge and the power and responsibility that it brings. Ultimately, Victor’s downfall is a result of his uncontrollable thirst for knowledge, and is brought about through the monster which is the embodiment of his obsession. Victor is a brilliant scientist who figures out a way to create life from death using galvanism, or electricity.
This quote makes it apparent that Victor regrets his decision to heavily pursue knowledge and create his monster, clearly showing that the path that he embarked on was one that resulted in severe suffering. In conclusion, it is clear that Victor Frankenstein’s intentions are pure, however he is unaware that his pursuit of knowledge directly leads to his personal suffering. Robert Walton, similar to many explorers during his time, is ambitious to discover land beyond the North Pole. However, to reach this goal, he has to walk the dangerous path of acquiring knowledge. Walton’s goal, which is to reach the North Pole, requires him to captain a ship which travels through thick and thin.
“If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us” Adlai E. Stevenson. The politician explains his perception of creativity in this quote along with its connection to ambition by relating determination and faith to the discovery of knowledge. He believes that nothing can restrict our drive to seek information when one entirely devotes himself to the pursuit. Similarly, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and the creature all attempt to acquire arcane knowledge at any and all costs. Their ambition drives them to take risks and even put the lives of themselves and others on the line.