The pursuit of knowledge leads to despair and corruption in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. He suffers because of his creation that eventually destroys life. As I have read through the novel, the creature begins to change as he gains knowledge. The creature at the start is innocent and means no harm. As he gains knowledge, he begins to learn that he does not fit in and becomes angry. Now, we will take a closer look at how knowledge hurts these characters and leads to despair and corruption throughout the novel. .
The knowledge that Victor is pursuing and the knowledge the creature is pursuing, have primary differences. Victor is working to try to figure out how to "cheat death" or create living creatures. As he does this, this knowledge goes against what is accepted by society. This project is an unknown type of science and the success is a mystery. Victor becomes so caught up with the idea that he does not realize or consider the possible consequences. Creating a menace to society was one thing he didn't have on his mind. His creature is at a different logical level. The creature does not understand the language of humans or how human society is ordered. He examines and studies human behaviors and connections. He learns the language and more about how humans work. He is surprised about what he learns and is yet angered by it. The creature is not accepted in human society, and his knowledge of this changes his personality into an angry outsider in search of revenge. Mary Shelley writes Victors story from Victor's point of view and of him telling another man, Walton, about his ghastly tale. .
Victor meets Walton in the beginning of the novel and is very sick at this time. The two are on Walton's ship as Walton is attempting to reach the North Pole. He tells Walton of his dreadful tale of how his pursuit of knowledge had ruined his existence. Victor is gripped by the idea of the "secret of life".
