Analysis of Knowledge in Frankenstein free essay sample

Maybe It is common belief that knowledge is a wonderful thing. Knowledge is key, or at least that is what most people are brought up believing. Children are taught by their elders from a young age that they want to be successful, and that they should do well in school. Knowledge is the root of this, as it is a main required component of becoming successful at a modern day and age. Mentors throughout ones life frequently remind him or her to ask questions to satisfy his or her own curiosity. Has anyone ever thought that perhaps asking questions is not always the best option? Humans strive for knowledge in order to learn, to earn a good job, to better life as it is known, or even just to satisfy ones own curiosity. It is natural to be curious, and therefore to strive knowledge, but can there ever be too much knowledge? Are there things that are better off if nobody knows about them? Victor, and the monster, demonstrate in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, that knowledge, or the thirst of knowledge, results badly. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Knowledge in Frankenstein or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Knowledge is a form of power that must not be abused. The largest example of the downfalls to knowledge lies with Victor Frankenstein. Victor states that â€Å"[his] parents resolved that [he] should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt† (Shelley 28). This goes to show how knowledge is generally something that is coveted by many. In this case, it is Victors parents who pass on the lust for knowledge. In no way do they mean this in a bad way. While Victors parents want him to be successful and gain plenty of knowledge by attending university, they want this to benefit their child, as they see knowledge to be a good thing. Not many people think about how knowledge can negatively impact a person as it does to Victor. Victor moves on, and later works to animate a being of whom he had created from objects such as metal, and non-living human parts. His knowledge, and his curiosity lead him to do what has never been done before, 2 and create life from nothing. Though this seems as though it would be a magnificent feat, it does not turn out so well as Victor exclaims his disgust with his own work: â€Å"A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch† (44). By animating the monster, Victor is successful in his search for knowledge to fulfil his curiosity, but does not realize the consequence behind his work. It is his very thirst for knowledge that ruins the remainder of Victors life. Victors knowledge is what brings him up to where he is in life, but it is also what brings him down after the creation of the monster. Victors insanity, guilt, and eventually death, all stem from this monster he creates from his abundance of knowledge. Victor is full of knowledge, but this is certainly not the only type of being that knowledge affects.