Knowledge
Frankenstein Final Assesment By: Hannah Matotek
Knowledge From My Perspective
Knowledge is a very powerful thing to posses. It comes in many shapes and forms and can be harmful in the wrong hands. Knowledge can be something as simple as learning a new instrument and can expand to something as powerful as running NASA. Knowledge is something that should be controlled in the right circumstances.
What is Knowledge?
The Webster Dictionary definition of knowledge is "information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education.
Victor Frankenstein
He had a major impact on the creatures knowledge in the book. The creature learned some of the more harmful emotions when he read victors log from the experiment.
De Lacey and His Family
They taught the creature about basic emotions and how to read and write. this impacted the story line from the creature reading victors journal and developing rage from the creature being called a failed experiment.
Nature
The creature had to deal with the harsh conditions of nature. In doing this, he learned how to survive on his own.
Quotes
- "'In a fit of enthusiastic madness I created a rational creature and was bound towards him to assure, as far as was in my power, his happiness and well-being . . . I refused, and I did right in refusing, to create a companion for the first creature. He showed unparalleled malignity and selfishness in evil; he destroyed my friends . . . Miserable himself that he may render no other wretched, he ought to die. The task of his destruction was mine, but I have failed.'" Chapter 24, pg. 199-200. This quote shows how Frankenstein uses his knowledge to try to gain power and how much it backfired on him.
- "'The labours of men are genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind.'" Chapter 3, pg. 34. This quote talks about how the knowledge of people can be translated in lots of different ways.
- "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." Chapter 4, pg. 38. He's basically saying how ignorance is bliss.
- "'All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, they creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us.'" Chapter 10, pg. 83. The creature learns how the people in the village see him as a monster because he's different.
- "'You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains -- revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery.'" Chapter 20, pg. 153. The knowledge the creature obtained from Victors journal made him angry and want revenge. Once again, ignorance is bliss.
- "As he heard it, the whole truth rushed into his mind, his arms dropped, the motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended; he could feel the blood trickling in his veins and tingling in the extremities of his limbs." Chapter 23, pg. 177. The knowledge of what he really was scared him to the core. This is for both the creature and Victor.
"Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility." - Robin Morgan
Modern Connections
Like many people today, the creature in Frankenstein learned a lot of what he knew through books. I feel like this was a big connection to today's society because a lot of America's youth is being raised on books. The creature in the book only had a limited selection of books so I'm also curious to know if he would've selected differently if he would've known about libraries and different genres of books.
Modern Connections (Cont.)
The creature could have also come across a very different family. This could have completely changed his outlook on life and how he saw other human beings. He could've thought that all humans have a specific religion or act a certain way around each other. Victor could've also taught him as soon as he came to life. Victor could've had a prodigy of his own to continue his work and he could have made more creatures. This is related to the modern world because of how some parents act with their children. They could neglect them like how Victor and the french family did with the creature.
“Teens Today Don’t Read Books Anymore”: A Study of Differences in Interest and Comprehension Based on Reading Modalities: Part 1, Introduction and Methodology
Work Cited
Moyer, Jessica E. ""Teens Today Don't Read Books Anymore": A Study of Differences in Interest and Comprehension Based on Reading Modalities: Part 1, Introduction and Methodology." The Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults. WordPress, 02 Nov. 2010. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Web. 07 Dec. 2015.
Merrill, Douglas. "Knowledge Is Power? Those Days Are Long Gone."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.
Morgan, Robin. "Robin Morgan Quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, 2001. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.