The Danger of Knowledge: Frankenstein Essay Example

are an important part of the book.Through out the novel the monster goes through new experiences and gains knowledge that ultimately leads to failure and anger. The monster wants to learn more and has a great desire for knowledge. He always listens closely to the human’s discussion and teachings. He talks about finding and learning from some of their books.

He says, “The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories. ” (Shelley 88) Just like Victor at the beginning of the novel, he is thirsty for knowledge and reads everything that he can lay his hands on.With this new knowledge he tries to introduce himself to the Mr. Delacey, who is blind. (Everything was fine until his family came home and attacked the monster).

The monster felt terror and anger and he tore apart the forest. Feeling more lonely than ever, the monster demands that Victor create a companion for him. When Victor rips apart his companion the monster kills more of Victor’s loved ones. Though he seems like it, the monster is not a killing machine that feels nothing after murdering. He is tortured by the knowledge that he has killed.

Even though the monster does some things that are evil, he knows what he is doing is wrong and his conscious is flooded with that knowledge. Robert Walton is a ship captain with a desire for knowledge and a thirst for the unknown. In his letters he reveals to his sister that he hopes to help humanity and to be well known someday by finding a passage through the North Pole that

would cut travel time considerably. Walton also states in his letters that he is lonely and in need of a friend because of the demands of his chosen path to fame. "To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate" (Shelley 21).Walton’s first letter appears again in Victor’s narrative, this time in a scientific context.

When describing his discovery of the secret of life, he says, “From the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me—a light so brilliant and wondrous. ”(Shelley 34) Light reveals and leads the way; it is essential for seeing, and seeing is the way to knowledge. However, just as light can brighten your path, it can blind the one who walks it. Victor then warns Walton of “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.

”(Shelley 35) Walton pulls back from his mission to find a passage to the North Pole.Had Victor Frankenstein not worked so hard to discover the key to producing life and of wanting to be knowledgeable of something that he could not handle; the lives of those he loved wouldn’t have been in danger. The monster’s knowledge of his creator’s disgust is a danger to everyone. Had he not known of his ugly looks and had he not felt the desire to fit in then maybe he would have lived a better life. Walton ultimately pulls back from his treacherous mission, having learned from Victor’s example of how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be. Frankenstein shows us that the pursuit of knowledge is often to high a price to pay.