Analysis Relevancy of Frankenstein: Victor Frankenstein's Selfish Nature

Relevance of "Frankenstein" Today: Victor's Selfish Nature

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a timeless piece that still hits home today. It dives into what happens when someone’s scientific dreams go too far and the moral problems that come with it. A big theme in the story is how self-centered Victor Frankenstein, the main character, really is. If we look at some key quotes, it becomes clear that Victor mostly cares about his own desires rather than other people's needs. Let’s dig into why Victor’s selfishness is so important to the storyline. We’ll spotlight several instances where he puts his own goals above everyone else’s well-being.

Victor's Selfish Ambitions from the Get-Go

Victor's selfish side pops up right at the beginning. He gets totally wrapped up in creating life and ignores all the things that might go south. Victor himself says, “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world” (Shelley, 34). What’s this tell us? He doesn’t care much for how things naturally work and has this crazy idea of playing God. He's so hungry for knowledge that he skips over all those risky questions about ethics his experiment raises.

When Victor finally brings the creature to life, he just up and abandons it—talk about showing his selfish side even more! He's grossed out by what he made and shirks off any responsibility for it. He even admits, “I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation” (Shelley, 36). This quote shows that his ambition was so intense he ignored his own health and didn’t give a hoot about caring for the creature he brought to life. Instead, he leaves it alone to fend for itself in a harsh world.

Revenge Over Loved Ones

Victor’s selfishness reaches new heights when he craves revenge instead of looking after his loved ones. After the creature kills his younger brother William, all Victor can think about is getting even; he doesn't really consider keeping others safe. He remarks, “My own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me” (Shelley, 78). Here’s where you see him thinking only about his own suffering rather than worrying about how his thirst for revenge might harm his family and friends.

You also catch glimpses of Victor's selfish nature in his never-ending quest for knowledge—no matter what it costs him or others around him. He wants to crack the mysteries of life and death so badly he forgets everyone else in his life. Victor says at one point, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge” (Shelley, 31). This shows that while Victor knows just how risky his ambitions are, he's also putting his curiosity above everything else around him.

A Cautionary Tale on Ambition

In conclusion—or should I say ultimately?—“Frankenstein” serves as a wake-up call about what can happen when ambition runs wild unchecked and people act purely outta self-interest. By picking apart these quotes from the book, it's obvious that Victor Frankenstein's driven mainly by what he wants personally without much thought for anyone else involved. His mad obsession with creating life only leads him down paths where he's either ditching responsibilities or getting caught up in vengeance rather than protecting those close to him while chasing after forbidden knowledge like there’s no tomorrow!

So yeah... Shelley's depiction paints Victor as someone who's swallowed whole by their ambitions—a reminder (perhaps?) about why being too wrapped up in oneself can bring real danger both personally & collectively speaking!

References

• Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." Penguin Classics Edition.
• Knoepflmacher U.C., & George Levine (Eds.). "The Endurance of 'Frankenstein': Essays on Mary Shelley's Novel." University of California Press.
• Johnson B.E., "'Frankenstein' as a Gothic Novel," English Literary History Journal.