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Scientific Advancement In Frankenstein Research Paper

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Criticisms of Scientific Advancements in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Both Romantics and Victorians faced many scientific discoveries during the Romantic and Victorian eras. Some held stronger opinions against science than others, which is exemplified in American-Victorian author William Gilmore Simms’ statement “... The cold-blooded daemon called Science has taken the place of all other daemons” (Cox, Gilbert). Although not all from that time are considered to be anti-science, many Romantic and Victorian authors also raised concerns through literature that criticized science. Mary Shelley's criticism of science in her novel Frankenstein is one of the strongest from the Romantic era. Frankenstein's monster serves as a symbol of the result of man's …show more content…

The obsession he had with science led to the creation of his monster. Knowing that the monster is a direct result of Dr. Frankenstein’s scientific curiosity and experiments, the monster can be viewed as a symbol for the result of man trying to create life, or destruction. Shelley is criticizing science here, pointing out that the obsession of science can lead to man acting highly unethical, such as digging up dead bodies and reassembling them, ultimately man’s own destruction, which is exactly what happened to Victor Frankenstein at the end of Shelley’s novel. This fear is not only present in the Romantic era. It is also apparent in the Victorian era, and can be found in the short story “The Body Snatcher” by Robert Louis Stevenson. “The Body Snatcher” also raises concerns of stealing bodies from graves. “…And when subjects were scarce the pair would drive far into the country in Macfarlane's gig, visit and desecrate some lonely graveyard, and return before dawn with their booty to the door of the dissecting-room” (Stevenson). In this story, bodies were also stolen for science, and Stevenson also criticizes the unethical use of science

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