University of Ingolstadt, where he learns about modern science and, within a few years, masters all the his professors have to teach him. He becomes fascinated with the “secret of life,” discovers it, and brings a monster to life. The monster proceeds to kill Victor’s youngest brother, best friend, and wife, when Victor refuses to create a mate for the monster. The monster also indirectly causes the deaths of two other people including Victor’s father. Though torn by remorse, shame, and guilt, Victor refuses to admit to anyone the horror of what he has created, even as he sees the ramifications of his creative act spiraling out of control.

Victor changes over the course of the novel from an innocent youth fascinated by

In Shelley’s time, the power of human reason, through science and technology, challenged many traditional precepts about the world and man’s relationship with his creator. Yet at the same time, many questioned these humanist notions, stressing the limits of human capacity. Shelley details this theme in her book, making an allusion to the counter- humanist idea in chapter four when Victor warns Walton not to follow in his footsteps, saying, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” Victor attempts to go beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. He is in pursuit of knowledge that proves to be dangerous. Robert Walton attempts to beyond human explorations by going to the north pole. Victor’s ruthless pursuit eventually leads to the destruction of everyone he holds dear to him. Walton becomes trapped in sheets of ice. Victor’s hatred of his own creation brings him to his own death, and Walton gives up his mission learning how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be. Indeed, to Shelley and many others of her time, some riddles of nature should never be discovered by man.

Walton remembers the words that the monster says to him over Victor’s dead body, in his final letter to his sister. This eruption of angry self-pity as the monster questions the injustice of how he has been

Some topics in this essay:
Victor Victor, University Ingolstadt, Ignorance Bliss, II Quotations, Robert Walton, Victor Chapter, Frankenstein Swiss, Victor Frankenstein, Indeed Shelley, III Theme, ignorance bliss, bring injustice, “secret life”, attempts beyond, victor refuses, robert walton,