Humanity has unlocked the secrets of the universe for millennia, discovering more about the world in the process; but will we ever get to the point where we know too much? This is in fact the premise of Shelley's “The Modern Prometheus”; a presentation of the consequences a man must face for knowing more than he can control. In Frankenstein, the idea of ​​knowledge always seems to be connected to the source of the protagonist's abundant feelings of foreboding and misery. The protagonist changes ascetically throughout his quest for greater knowledge with high hopes for his success, but Shelly forbids the best outcome for Victor. Knowledge is considered a negative concept in Frankenstein because it torments the main protagonist with a sense of isolation from humanity and guilt for the events that were the indirect effect of Victor's excessive acquisition of knowledge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the first volume, the reader is confronted with the scene in which Victor witnesses an oak tree struck by lightning, which is symbolic of the attainment of knowledge in Prometheus; as fire and lightning were used to represent the power of knowledge in Greek mythology, particularly the ability to have free will (hence “The Modern Prometheus”). Enlightenment is seen as something intriguing and attractive, something that incites Victor to “conquer” it; knowledge. Victor's infatuation with the "beauty" of lightning was initially distant (literally) but admirable; similar to Walton's journey, also a risky undertaking worth admiring at first. However, Victor does not control his “distance” from knowledge, which is shown when he approaches the oak tree, he sees nothing but a destroyed stump, which foreshadows his state later when he applies the forbidden knowledge he has acquired. Shelly seemingly implies the cliché that "the more you know, the more you don't know", which accurately describes Victor's character development, as the more knowledge he gains, the more woefully ignorant he becomes. Even after Victor has tasted the consequences of his forbidden knowledge, Shelly renders Victor unable to accept the dangers of this knowledge and continues to extend his grasp into the unknown, as Shelley writes: "So much has been done, exclaimed the soul ". of Frankenstein: I will get more, much more; following the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new path, I will explore unknown powers and reveal to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (3:46). Shelley uses language that conflicts with the zeitgeist of the early 1800s, a time when the Catholic Church censored and limited the growth of knowledge and understanding of the realm of science and nature. Victor would be the one who would pioneer a new path and uncover the deepest mysteries of the creation of the world, a task that would question the origins of human nature, something that has been forbidden and banned by the Catholic Church. Unlike Walton who was able to realize the boundary between reality and the dangerous unknown, Victor proceeds to "excavate" the secrets of human nature, which is depicted in the scene where he literally digs up graveyards to build his fusion of knowledge acquired. . The idea of ​​learning through discovery is something that has been considered daring, meaning it can also be dangerous, like the monster. Ambition also plays an important role in the novel, serving as a further stimulus to Victor's acquisition of knowledge. It has already been established that knowledge (in “Frankenstein”) is a dangerous element to challenge,so the question remains: why would an intellectual like Victor lack such foresight? Shelley asserts in the novel an overwhelming sense of ambition in Victor's character, preventing him from considering the further repercussions of creating the monster. Vittorio's emotional response overshadows his logical reasoning and, as a result, no degree of consolation can save him from the non-refundable knowledge that consumes him; similar to the fire that slowly burns the oak after the strike. Victor himself recognized his sin, as he states, “Destiny was too powerful, and its immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction” (2:38); essentially, it was not in pursuit of evil that Victor had wanted this knowledge, but rather an inevitable fate that Victor was subjected to as his destiny. Thus, a tragic hero is born, through an obsessive desire to challenge the boundaries of human conception and the internal suffering that Victor experiences; knowledge has effectively generated a romantically doomed figure. Victor is commenting on how his ability to gain this knowledge and create the monster was decreed by destiny, which is personified in the story to represent how dominant its presence is in his life. This was still bound to happen, even if Victor had never pursued it. research in the first place, someone else would in time, as Adam and Eve were ultimately destined to eat from the apple of knowledge, one way or another. Therefore knowledge is dangerous because it is irreversible; once a concept is learned, it provides the warmth of a calm flame or ignites into a destructive fire. In “Frankenstein,” however, knowledge is mostly destructive to the characters' happiness, even the monster who had not yet matured emotionally regretted having gained knowledge of his own birth. Walton is spared from the plague of knowledge, as Victor was able to remind Walton that because knowledge is so liberating, one can easily lose understanding of what he is granted, which in Victor's case would be his family. Victor then warns Walton: “If the study to which you apply yourself tends to weaken your affections and destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can mingle, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is, it does not suit the human mind." Walton is fortunately able to come to the conclusion that some knowledge is best left outside the human sphere, where it cannot prevent Walton from enjoying the “little things” that nature has to offer. this statement by Victor Frankenstein reflects Mary Shelley's thoughts on the trends of the current times. It was the beginning of the 19th century, science was in its infancy, a new fashion spread like wildfire and sparked people's search for knowledge. It was stimulated by the recently ignited interest in scientific discoveries and the recently overcome "Age of Enlightenment". It was a time when morality and religion were questioned and logic and science were seen as better tools for solving world problems. The problem we encountered though was that people were passionate, because the movement was new, excited often in a way that clouded judgment. This is the attitude that Mary Shelley tries to portray in Victor Frankenstein. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Shelley, therefore, concludes that knowledge is something to be enjoyed superficially; like a fire, it is something that must be observed from a distance. One should not immerse oneself in the depths of nature's unknown, but rather appreciate what lies before oneself, in.”