Kelly #1 Frankenstein

Its inevitable that with knowledge comes power, but its also true that with power comes with responsibility,  and in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley we see these statements are indeed true. Soon into the horror story we learn how obsessed Victor Frankenstein is with his creation, with his "monster", hoping that it will suit his desires in a person perfectly. Victors drive for knowledge and to create his monster is exceptional but as he consumes himself with science and his creation, he consumes his own soul. "From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation."(p.29)  Victor dedicates his whole being to science and in turn he gains a library of knowledge, but this knowledge isn't necessarily what he needs. He creates the monster in order to fill in missing parts in his life, "but I was in reality very ill; and surely nothing but the unbounded and unremitting attentions of my friend could have restored me to life. The form of the monster on whom I had bestowed existence was forever before my eyes, and I raved incessantly concerning him"(p.29) but eventually the monster is his life and he is no longer himself. The monster is a symbol of how science and invention can be run by desires and cravings and how they can turn disastrous. Victors monster becomes a symbol of himself and of Victors true feelings: he wants to apply himself to society and be happy, but just can't.