Scientific Integrity in Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Compare and Contrast Science plays an integral role in the development and findings of many great things that we can benefit from. Integrity along with a specific set of moral standards must always be followed in order to ensure the end result enables a healthy environment for all whom wish to benefit from such studies. Integrity must always play and be the most essential key role in scientific research. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1831) and Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) one is able to conclude that integrity must be maintained while conducting scientific research as a lack of can result in the creation of monsters. In Frankenstein, there are endless possibilities in regards to science. Shelley is able to relay a message of integrity and moral importance through creation and destruction. Dr. Frankenstein had little to no regard for integrity while conducting his experiment. He allowed his desires to influence and ultimately create a monster in his basement, and while doing so he did not consider nor ask for input from his fellow colleagues. Victor Frankenstein’s loss in the battle between nature and science foreshadows destruction for Walton, as he too foresees he is nearing his journey. “Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of
Modern science, medicine, and technology have bestowed upon society a vast array of advantages and privileges previously thought to be the realm of science-fiction. Advancements such as atomic and nuclear power, lightspeed satellite communications, and airplanes flying miles above land are only some examples among the plethora that have been created by the world’s most capable intellectuals and engineers. Under most circumstances, such scientific progress would be heralded by a contemporary audience. What would happen, however, if traditionally-held ethics and standards were displaced from the workplace and the lines that separated right from wrong were irreparably blurred? In her novel Frankenstein, Mary
Thesis Statement: In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the creature’s identity as a monster is due to societal rejection, isolation, and misinterpretation.
For years, people have thought of Frankenstein as the monster, though the idea could be easily understood, Frankenstein is truly the doctor. The cunning mind behind Dr. Frankenstein and his gruesome monster is an author known by the name of Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley faced many despair filled moments throughout her life, events including, miscarriages, suicides, and affairs. These events marked the beginning of Frankenstein and with it a new era of writing.
The Gothic Novels of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two horrific tales of science gone terribly wrong. Shelley?s novel eloquently tells the story of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living monster out of decomposed body parts, while Stevenson?s novel describes the account of one, Henry Jekyll, who creates a potion to bring out the pure evil side to himself. Although the two scientists differ in their initial response and action to their creations, there are strong similarities between their raging curiosity to surpass human limitation, as well as their lack of responsibility concerning their actions. These similarities raise an
Some people live in a world that holds both beauty and ugliness, both joy and sorrow. This world defines the human character in which some have disagreements with each other or have a freedom of thoughts that makes them happy. This limitless world has granted people to be free and equal and gives the opportunity to learn from one another. However, some people try to get these benefits away from other individuals. For instance, some engage to take advantage of one another, approaches the kindness of each other, and feel jealousy of someone who has better things. Therefore, one can view in the novel called Frankenstein the existence of humanity. As, is perceived of the creature constructed by Victor Frankenstein. The creature is an invention by a maniacal scientist, who neglects the monster by its grotesque appearance. Referring to the Novel, Frankenstein is differently with his own creation; due to the fact that the monster is not a living human, but an invention. Humanity plays a significant role in the novel, but also in the universe.
What purpose does it serve to have multiple narrators telling a story? In Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, three main narrators tell the story about the creation of a monster and the events that follow. The job of narrator shifts between Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the monster that Victor creates. As each narrator shares his own recollection of the events that occurred, new facts are introduced to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Although Frankenstein uses multiple narrators to tell the story, it is important to look at the effects it might have on the stories accuracy. In this essay, I will closely examine the motives, differences, and similarities of each narrator to see what influences, if any, they have on the narrative.
It is vital that you know who the real monster in the Frankenstein book, Victor Frankenstein is the number one contender for this position. He creates a monster, but who knows if the actual monster he created is the true monster in this story. In later chapters the true monster is revealed, Victor Frankenstein takes fault for the deaths of Justine, William, and Henry even though he wasn’t the actual cause of their death. Although the monster was created by Victor, he is still horrid and disgusted by how his monsters look and abandons his creation because of his unpleasant demeanor. Victor didn’t accept the monster and decided to avoid coming into contact with the monster, woefully the monster later commits an evil act and kills Justine
The purpose of this essay is not only to draw comparisons of the iniquity of the
As mentioned earlier, this modern definition of science fiction really begins to form throughout the nineteenth century. While often Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelly, is categorized as a gothic novel, many experts agree that it is the first novel that can truly be called science fiction. Shelly’s novel was the first to accept modern science and recognize that it was an element of everyday life. Earlier novels had shown science and technology as something man should fight against, but Shelly showed it as something that was already incorporated into everyday life and was not going away. She showed many different forms of science and technology throughout the novel. From the beginning, she illustrates the how important science is to Victor Frankenstein by telling the reader “Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate.” This sentence leads the readers into the first section of the book that foreshadows how science will be twisted later in the novel. In this section, Shelly references Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus, three scientists who at one point were famous for their theories in the field of natural philosophy, but had since been replaced with more accurate theories. These three scientists were real and their theories had been discredited by the time this novel was published. By using their name in theories,
Frankenstein fulfilled his destiny and made his creation despite his suffering and misfortunes. However, his influence on Walton is paradoxical. One moment, Frankenstein exhorts Walton’s almost-mutinous men to not stray from their path courageously, regardless of danger. The next, he serves as an abject example of the dangers of heedless scientific ambition. Walton serves as a foil to Victor, either not obsessive enough to risk almost-certain death or not courageous enough to allow his passion to drive him. Walton ultimately draws back from his treacherous mission and returns to England, having learned from Victor’s example how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be.
Women were raising their voices, social norms were changing, and the traditional structure of government was being torn down. Culture was evolving, people were challenging the church, and it was all due to the heavy influence of the French Revolution (Cooper). It was the Romantic era, and also the perfect time for an extraordinary author to arise.
In creating Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley is able to create the first piece of science fiction by the influences she was surrounded by in her day to day life. Her father was a gothic writer, which is where Shelley gets her gothic tone. Also, during this time, Shelley was inspired by the romantic movement that emphasized human nature, which allowed her to question the human motive for power. Based on the influences of Romanticism and Gothic Literature, author Mary Shelley is able to compose the first science fictional piece of literature.
Though the books were published almost seven decades apart the monsters in Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde share many similarities: They were both created in laboratories by European scientists for somewhat morally suspect purposes, both were outcasts of society, and murdered characters secondary to their creator. Even in their final days they followed a similar archetype by taking the lives of their creators before ending their own. One should ask the question why these stories have stood the test of time while countless others fall by the wayside.
We have all heard the saying, “not everything goes as planned.” In this case, it is absolutely true. In the books, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, there are two scientists who decide to excel human limitations, however, it backfires. In Frankenstein, we have Victor Frankenstein who is curious with the secret of life and creates a monster with purpose of constructing a supreme being. While in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, we have Dr. Jekyll who has this idea that man has a good side and a bad side, and that they can be separated. Therefore, he produces a potion where he can release the vicious energy by transforming into someone else. Both these characters have similar tasks; to change the world of science, but the further they pursue their experiments, the more misfortune and sufferings they cause to not only others, but themselves. Due to this, it creates an awareness in the field of science along with these scientists reality.