In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the main characters are determined to learn as much as they can. Mad scientist, Victor Frankenstein, learns how to create life and creates a creature who later becomes able to speak English and learns he is not accepted by neither his creator nor other people. Throughout the story, the creature tries to fit into the human world. In this gothic tale, Shelley uses the characterizations of the Creature and Victor to express how too much knowledge can have negative consequences. .
Shelley characterizes the creature as hateful to portray how knowing too much will lead to conflict. For instance, the Creature learns to read and write from the cottagers. He later finds papers in Victor's clothes that explain how he was created. The Creature directly states why he is hateful: "I sickened as I read. 'Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred" (Shelley 111).
As the Creature reads the papers, he comes to know that he is not wanted. He realizes Victor regrets the day he gave him life. He calls upon Victor as his, "accursed creator" and he hates Victor for conceiving him. It fills him with hate to know that his own creator does not accept him. This emphasizes how knowing too much knowledge can lead to conflict because if the Creature had never learned to read, then he would have never found out that Victor regretted creating him. Knowing he is unwanted the creature is filled with hate and revenge. The need for revenge also characterizes the creature as despiteful. When the creature finds William, he wants to keep him and teach him to love him, but when he finds out he is related to Victor, he kills him.
