Man playing God in Frankenstein - Book Report/Review Example

Man Playing God in "Frankenstein" The novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelly in 1818, presents many arguments and inquiries that intrigue human mind centuries after the novel was written. Shelly questions the advancement of science and man's innate desire to be like his Creator, to the extent that man often tries to literally play God. She takes up this issue, and presents her own version of the concept, debating whether man is qualified enough, in all senses, to try and take over the powers of the Creator, and what would happen if he would succeed in doing so. One of the major concerns of Mary Shelley, in Frankenstein, has been to warn the humanity about the dangerous nature of natural philosophical questioning coupled with the advent of science. The novelist has been effective in this celebrated science fiction to present the futile as well as dangerous nature of natural philosophical questioning, which has left the human beings to challenge the innate powers of God. Thus, Mary Shelly presents Frankenstein, in his attempts to discover the mysteries of life, as assuming that he can act the role of God. "By playing God, Victor Frankenstein has simultaneously upheld the creationist theory and parodied it by creating only a monster. In both ways, Victor Frankenstein has blasphemed against the natural order of things." (Mellor, 101) Significantly, total chaos ensues when this character disrupts the natural order of the world by taking the role of God, the Creator. Victor Frankenstein has only created a deadly force, through his creation and neglect of the monster. Through the character of Frankenstein, Mary Shelly establishes that ruthless pursuit of knowledge, challenging the natural order of things, can only bring about dangerous results. Therefore, in a profound exploration of Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein, it becomes lucid that the novelist, especially through the character of Victor Frankenstein, offers valuable reasoning with regard to why man should not play God. It is true that such a discussion borders on the dangerous grounds of heresy, regardless of a faith system that one follows, for almost in all faiths the concept of God is presented as perfect and the most-powerful being who is the Lord of all creation. However, it is only by venturing in such heretical grounds that one can actually try and understand the themes running through the novel Frankenstein. Did Victor indeed try to play God, or was he just an overzealous scientists who took it too far While dissecting the themes and concepts forming the groundwork of Frankenstein, it is imperative to study the historical background and the era in which the novel was written. The 1800s were a time when radical scientific developments were taking place, and there was a sudden boom in the advancements that an ordinary person encountered in his daily life. It was demonstrated in the article, "Frankenstein and Playing God," that electricity could be used to spasm the muscles of a dead human being twenty years before the author wrote the novel, and it cannot be ignored that this phenomenon must have been the ignition that sparked Shelly's imagination in writing this novel. These observations tackle the question of why exactly did Shelly choose to write on this topic, which is crucial in understanding the mindset with which she developed the character, Victor. The basic theme running through the novel is the ambitious pursuance of knowledge and science which finally led to Victor's death. He started off quite innocently with apparently good intentions, and in the beginning of the novel, he did not have any apparent ulterior motives as to the misuse of his knowledge. However, as he learned, the possibilities of his abilities grew, and it dawned on him just how vast the field was in which he could make his own mark. Hence, we see in Letter IV that this unchecked quest for knowledge is related to intoxication and madness (Shelly 54). Driven uncontrollably by his desire to cross the boundaries and limitations of mere everyday science, Victor went too far in trying to achieve a God-like status. It should be noted, however, that this desire did not guide his actions from the start, but rather grew gradually as he discovered new possibilities, and as his scientific prowess increased through his experiments. One incident that ignited Victor's drive toward creation and propelled him to play God was the death of his mother, which he strongly believed to be unfair and unjust. It was only natural then, that he would try to take matters into his own hands and react impulsively. Regarding illness and death as imperfections and nuisances, Victor sought to come up with a solution to these flaws or faults in the whole web of creation by creating something, or rather hoping to create something that would defy these defects and live to be perfect, devoid of all illnesses and even the prospect of death. It is important to note here that his desire to play God - which indeed he did try to do, so it is unarguable - did not spring from vanity and the sole aim to unmatched power and glory, as is often opined, but rather from a reactionary attitude from the loss of a loved one, a loss he deemed as unfair and avoidable. This reaction alone does not render him an egotistic maniac who risked his life and the life of people around him in order to prove the world that he was superior than them. This concept can be wrongly inferred from the lines in chapter 4 of the book where Victor desires to create "a new species which would bless [him] as its creator and source" (48). Although his statement does illicit the discussed impression, the root cause of this attitude must be kept in mind while judging Victor's character, and through him, the general desires of human beings as depicted by Shelly. It is obvious Shelly thinks of human beings as always trying to rival their Creator by trying to take over the powers of creation so they can reach the same level as He. This concept is indeed heretical, but there have been many instances in history where incidents point to such an attitude behind certain acts. What is important to note is that Victor started off with good intentions, of trying to use science to modify the advent of illness and disease, and to ward of the threat of death in order to bring perfection and beauty to the creatures. This motive twisted itself into a desire to create something that would revere and worship him, and the overwhelming drive behind it can be the sheer power of knowledge and abilities that Victor had garnered through his studies and research. It cannot be denied that victor ended up trying to play God, but failed at it. As a result, it not only took his life but also the lives of his family and friends. What must be remembered is that there were no deliberate intentions involved in such a misfortune; indeed, it was never Victor's intention to create a monster, or as is said in the book in chapter 4, "workshop of filthy creation" (49). Victor failed in his God-act in another aspect; instead of showing compassion and responsibility towards his so-called creation, he was horrified, and simply banished it, thus eliciting violent and savage reactions from the monster, who was dependant on Victor's guidance and support. When ostracized the way he was, the monster, or Victor's creation, turned into a devil, as Victor always thought of him. Also, it can be argued that Victor never truly "created" something, as he just re-used already created body parts, and just instilled life in a dead man, thus unsuccessfully imitating an act of God. In a careful investigation of the strategy adopted by Mary Shelley to present her ideas concerning the harmful effects of challenging natural order, one realizes that the novelist contrasts the beauty and order of life in 'natural' pursuits and the dangerous results of playing God. First of all, Mary Shelley has been emphatic about the beauty and order of life when man engages in 'natural' pursuits and she idealizes Frankenstein's home life, before he began to challenge natural order of things. "I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self." (Shelley, 34) At such a time, his family is orderly and wonderful. There was delicate joy in every aspect of his life. He suggests, Clerval's "presence brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my recollection. I felt suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and serene joy. I welcomed my friend, therefore, in a cordial manner" (Shelley, 53) Significantly, the novelist maintains that it is essential for human beings to feel at one with nature, rather than being at odds with it. "When happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations. A serene sky and verdant fields filled me with ecstasy." (63) Therefore, Mary Shelley has been successful in contrasting the beauty and order of life in 'natural' pursuits and the dangerous results of playing God. Through this strategy, she offers valuable reasoning in connection with why man should not play God or challenge the natural order of things, and suggests what happens if anyone tries to destroy the natural order of things. In conclusion, Mary Shelley has been effective in offering an essential reasoning as to why man should not play God, though her tale of Frankenstein. According to her, the ruthless pursuit of knowledge can only bring about dangerous results and it is illustrated through Victor's act of creation, which eventually results in the demolition of everyone dear to him. One of the essential purposes of science has been to satisfy man's appetite for knowledge and exploration and there have been several attempts to take the role of God. Science has become synonymous with man's attempt to play God and Victor Frankenstein illustrates this aspect of science. However, the novelist, Mary Shelley, offers a convincing illustration of the dangers connected with man's attempts to challenge the natural order of things. In short, Mary Shelly establishes, through the character of Frankenstein, that ruthless pursuit of knowledge, challenging the natural order of things, can only bring about dangerous results. Works Cited Anthology of Ideas. Frankenstein and Playing God. Weblog. 9 Aug. 2006. Anthologyoi.com. 10 Dec. 2009 . Mellor, Anne Kostelanetz. Mary Shelley: her life, her fiction, her monsters. London: Routledge. 1989. P 101. Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Read More