by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a classic piece of science fiction literature. The lessons that can be learned from Frankenstein apply perfectly to themes present in our class. Specifically, Frankenstein deals with scientific discovery and the importance of good ethics and morals in scientific practice. Dr. Victor Frankenstein is an incredibly complex and unstable character. Throughout the story, we can see him struggle with morality. By studying his decision making we can learn important lessons about ethical practices in science and the repercussions they have. Frankenstein is a prime example of the consequences of poor ethics and morals in science.
Victor Frankenstein deals with great loss throughout the course of the story. He often lets his emotions cloud his judgment and affect his decision making. A prime example of this is when Victor’s mother passes away from scarlet fever. Victor proceeds to completely immerse himself in his academic studies. He starts to obsess over why some things are alive and others are not. It is clear to the reader that his mother’s death has had a deep psychological impact on Victor, and that he is obsessing over finding something to replace the feeling of loss. This ultimately results in Victor’s creation of the monster. This turns out to be a rash and poorly thought out decision with dire consequences.
The act of bringing the monster to life is a selfish one. Victor is motivated to create the creature because of the void in his emotional life. He does not realize that he is responsible for this creature as its creator. He is horrified by his creation and completely refuses to deal with it, which is another poor moral decision. He gives free rein to a massive creature that he knows nothing about. Not to mention the creature has free will, and no role model to teach it right from wrong.
In the end, Victor Frankenstein is completely alone. The monster has either directly or indirectly finished off everyone Victor loves. Victor repeatedly fails to see that the creature is attacking his friends and family. He is so paranoid that the monster is trying to hurt him that he fails to realize what is happening until it is too late. Victor’s selfish thinking and paranoia are why he is ultimately responsible for the deaths of his loved ones. He was the one who brought the monster to life. He was the one who abandoned his creation and then destroyed its mate. It was his own series of selfish and unethical decisions that lead to the collapse of his world and a great deal of unnecessary bloodshed.
The story of Victor Frankenstein should serve as a cautionary tale. Scientists have a great deal of responsibility to ensure that their quest for discovery does not bring harm to others. Allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment, and ignoring ethical and moral responsibility can result in disastrous consequences. It is vital that scientists and researchers are aware of how their actions impact society. As the general public it is our responsibility to keep these people in check as best we can.