How Should We Pursue Knowledge according to Shelly?
The book “Frankenstein” is a reconstruction of the ideal evolution of human society
and the impact on the quality of life. Shelly demonstrates an effective approach to pursuing
knowledge based on the curiosity of Victor Frankenstein’s experiences. It is essential to
pursue knowledge to be happy. The lack of accountability for the acquired knowledge is a
consequence that profoundly influences the level of happiness of an individual. According to
Shelly, “Happiness is to the man who believes that the native town is the world than a man
seeking more than what nature offers” (32). The novel is a construct that defines the
consequences of seeking knowledge. An individual’s happiness lies in the essence of
responsibly seeking knowledge within the constraints of nature’s provisions.
Knowledge involves acquiring the ability to seek closure, interpret concepts, and
optimally apply the ideologies in real-life. Knowledge is an empowerment tool in human
society. Shelly demonstrates the importance of knowledge under the plot of the novel.
Although the novel is gothic, the reconstruction and interpretation of Victor’s actions show
the consequences of dynamically pursuing knowledge. Victor satisfied his curiosity about
superseding nature’s provisions by creating a live being. On the one hand, Victor takes pride
in reconstructing a being almost akin to a human being’s features. On the other hand, Victor
becomes an architect to his sadness and demise. Ideally, the symbolism of Frankenstein’s
knowledge is the creature whose appearance disgusts people’s eyes, hence rejection.
The acquisition of knowledge highly influences the character of an individual. Shelly
demonstrates the relationship between knowledge and human personality from the birth of
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Frankenstein to his maturity. As a child, Frankenstein yearned to interpret the dynamic
natural occurrences such as the science behind storms and weather changes. Frankenstein
viewed the acquisition of knowledge and its application as the pillar of humankind’s survival
(29). In this case, Frankenstein found delight and happiness in the application of the acquired
knowledge. As a result, Frankenstein applied his knowledge to reconstruct a creature hence
violating one of the critical elements of seeking knowledge. Frankenstein violated the
principle of the essence of operating consciously. Shelly utilizes Frankenstein’s failures as
the foundation of promoting the importance of appreciating the principle of responsibly
operating concepts. On the one hand, innovation is an approach that contributes to boosting
the way of living and survival among human beings. On the other hand, poor implementation
of concepts and ideologies compromises the happiness of individuals. Pursuing knowledge is
an initiative that seeks to improve the happiness of an individual than increase the sorrow and
the dangers from daily activities.
Another principle that addresses the approach of pursuing knowledge is the concept of
developing moral habits. Shelly attempts to show the significance of morally pursuing
knowledge through the spec of imitation. Frankenstein seeks to create a human being, but the
result is an imitation that is ugly and scares people. On the one hand, the creature appreciates
its creature, but its moral values end at the essence of significance in nature’s value chain. At
some point, the creature seeks favor among people but gets violently rejected, becoming sad
and angry at the creator. Although Frankenstein takes pride in the creation, the shortcoming
in the project’s moral approach leads to the significant consequences of loss of life and lack
of happiness. The main objective of Frankenstein in creating the monster encompassed a
demonstration of defying death (31). It is vital to integrate morality with project development
concepts to enhance the happiness index from the accrued benefits.
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The abstract knowledge founded by the predecessors is a pillar to the sustainable
application globally. Frankenstein’s urges to attain the status of a genius and reconstruct
knowledge, and new perspective featured one shortcoming, the concept of nature’s influence
on natural selection. According to Shelly, science is an avenue that provides opportunities to
develop approaches that improve the quality of human life. During his studies, Frankenstein
gains insights from the lecturers about the importance of learning chemistry, biology,
physics, and mathematics to understand and comprehend nature’s role (27). However,
Frankenstein selectively chooses the type of knowledge to attain and apply to foster change.
In this case, Frankenstein faced one shortcoming. The shortcoming involved the lack of
insight into the negative impact of altering nature’s authentic value. Sustainable development
is a multidimensional mainframe that consists of the integration of optimal exploitation of
natural resources without compromising the aesthetic value. Pursuing knowledge, therefore,
is the reconstruction of fostering change without altering the aesthetic value of the core belief
and natural existence system.
Happiness is dependent upon the ability to disintegrate ambitions and desires to
pursue advanced knowledge. According to Shelly, the features of happiness is calmness and
peace (34). The pursuit of knowledge is an issue whose effectiveness depends on the ability
to distinguish from personal experiences. Although Shelly reconstructs her life through the
novel, it is under the principle of conscious operability. Shelly focuses on pursuing
knowledge based on the impact of science fiction. An excellent example of redefining her life
is the characterization of Frankenstein’s mother as an individual with the passion of visiting
the poor. The characterization of Frankenstein’s mother is a translation of Shelly’s mother,
whose passion involved visiting the poor. In a different spectrum, Frankenstein’s failure to
pursue knowledge is the lack of seeking support system. Effective pursuit of knowledge
features a significant support system that criticizes the ideologies and provides dynamic
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views. Frankenstein fails to listen to other scholars about the reconstructing with similar
features of a human being. As a result, Frankenstein’s creature becomes naturally selected for
extinction through rejection from human society.
The efficiency of pursuing knowledge is the ability to share the concepts and enhance
the optimal derivation of benefits from the discoveries. Frankenstein argues that the
eagerness to discover and establish new perspectives in human living is a continuous process
(Shelly 33). Frankenstein isolates himself while reconstructing the perceptive humane
creature. Although the animation faces shortcomings, it is an ideology that disregards the
essence of pursuing knowledge. The pursuit of knowledge is sustainable due to the ability to
share with other scholars and seek the concept’s advancement. However, the reconstruction
of a humane creature leads to the end of conceptual knowledge about death. The
consequences that Frankenstein faces of losing his family and loved ones showcase the
importance of harnessing sustainable productivity from the acquired knowledge.
In conclusion, the sustainable pursuit of knowledge features the ability to appreciate
nature’s provisions and aesthetic value. The disintegration of applications from the acquired
knowledge threatens the happiness index and the well-being of individuals. Therefore, it is
essential to pursue knowledge responsibly and seek to discover ideologies that positively
impact human society. Natural selection is a concept that aims at regulating the valuation of
life forms globally.
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Work Cited
Shelley, M. (1818). Frankenstein.