There are multiple truths revealed through this novel. I am sure that Mary Shelley's intentions did include creating a novel that posed multiple moral questions; it is foolish to think that she simply set off to write a horror novel without any underlying meaning. There are multiple enduring truths or morals that seem to appear in every chapter. One of the most obvious of these truths is quite relevant especially in today's society. Science continues to advance and it is not completely clear where it is headed in the future, and this story and Frankenstein's experience forces the reader and hopefully society to question and make careful consideration about certain aspects of the advancement of technology and science.
Another important truth has to do with questioning the morality of humans and where this morality comes from. Clearly, both Frankenstein and his "monster" have moral dilemmas throughout the course of the story and it serves primarily as an example of how we, the readers, should not act. However, it is a realistic portrayal of human nature showing that there is no definite line between right and wrong, good and bad. Both characters have moments of both good and horrible intentions, unfortunately for the character's they are ultimately overcome by their own "bad angel" on the shoulder, or the immoral side of human nature. This is why Frankenstein warns Walton at the beginning and then end of the story to put his ego aside and make rational decisions about his future. In the same way that Victor warns Walton, so is Mary Shelley warning her readers.
This post is concise and well written. Walker, I really applaud your thoroughness in this response. I never thought of it that way. As I was reading, I never really questioned why she wrote the novel the way she did. However, maybe you're correct. Maybe she wanted to warn her audience of the dangers of making rash choices without exactly analyzing the process, possibilities, and product.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many factors that contribute to the creation of a book, and I definitely think that this is one of them.