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Confucius said, “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.” This quote applies to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, as one of the main characters, Victor Frankenstein, creates a monster, but then shuns his invention with the hope of abandoning it for the rest of his life. As a result, Victor is the primary morally ambiguous character due to his ambition to animate nonliving matter and horrible treatment of the being he creates, which is significant to the novel by making the reader question the difference between right and wrong.
In a positive light, Victor had good intentions, seeking to further science and knowledge itself.
For example, Victor has an innate need for more knowledge, advancing scientific discovery through his innovation.
While finding his love for science, Victor believes only “in … scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder” (Chapter 4). Frankenstein’s hunger for learning drove him to carry out his dream, which reveals his belief in the pursuit of knowledge bringing immense benefits to society.
Furthermore, he creates the monster to blur the line between life and death, in a way favorable to mankind.
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“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”
During innumerable hours of experimenting, Victor aims to “renew life where death had devoted the body to corruption” (Chapter 4). This goal illuminates his true purpose, controlling the one event humans are unable to prevent, death. Although this aspiration had negative repercussions, the intentions behind it were pure. Moreover, Victor realizes the needs of creation, namely the want to be loved.
After meeting the monster for the first time, “[Victor] felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, and that [he] ought to render [his creation] happy” (Chapter 10).
This highlights Victor’s newfound understanding of science and the heavy burden it contains. After crossing a line, one must face the consequence head-on instead of running away. To conclude, Victor’s great aptitude for science leads him on a quest for knowledge surpassing the natural limits, however, he desires societal benefits as a result of this mission.
However, Victor’s actions of treating the monster and not accepting his own mistakes have severe moral concerns as well. For example, Victor led himself to believe his shortcomings were due to his father and not his questionable actions. When Victor was growing up, he believed “[his] father was not scientific, and [he] was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge” (Chapter 2).
Frankenstein's Mistakes. (2022, May 26). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/frankenstein-s-mistakes-essay
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