Do you see any parallels between Victor Frankenstein's research and various scientific deveopments today? Does the monster's imageapply as caution against exceeding the bounds of nature?
2006-06-30 05:39:48 · 9 answers · asked by Slifer! 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Give specific examples if you can
2006-06-30 05:48:00 · update #1
To T_Von... Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. A teenage girl.
Anyway, Frankenstein is meant to be a cautionary story. It was written at the height of the Industrial Revolution, when people were getting replaced with machines, and new technologies came out every week. People were terrified of all these new things that suddenly appeared, working on principles they didn't understand. Yes, I think this has some parallels to our current situation... At one point during the 90s, your computer became outdated seven minutes after you bought it.
We do sort of blindly rush in with technological innovations these days, just as we did during the Industrial Revolution when Frankenstein was written. After all, we don't even know how most of our technology works. As for the monster representing caution against overstepping the bounds of nature...I might agree with that. But not as a reflection of technology. After all, patching together dead people and bringing them to life is still a bit beyond us... I think the point is that we should carefully consider all the new technologies we create, and their impacts on the world.
2006-06-30 06:39:43 · answer #1 · answered by kellsbells 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Victor Frankenstein was more concerned if he could, then if he should. Once the monster was re-animated and brought back to life, Frankenstein ran away in horror from his creation. I think Shelly's novel was more of a social treaties then a caution to scientific discovery. Much of the novel is devoted to the pain, anguish and self loathing of the creature and Frankenstein's fear of it. The creature Frankenstein created was not evil, but rather was provoked to violence by interactions with people who shunned him for his appearance. You could argue that the pursuit of artificial intelligents is giving life to a computer and explore the the potential consequences of consciousness in an un-living living object. Would it go out to destroy their creator just like the creature destroyed everyone Dr. Frankenstein loved?
2006-06-30 19:22:11 · answer #2 · answered by Randy's Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. One could draw obvious parrallels between Frankenstein and current debates over cloning and genetic manipulation. The idea in Frankenstein seems to be that while science is a positive, changing the natural order of things, i.e. ending death, is not a good thing.
2006-06-30 12:47:12 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can you limit the research of an idea?A good idea will change the human race forever.Government laws and college training direct and protect.Make a monster and the monster will be destroyed.Make a cell phone and live in the big house!
2006-06-30 12:49:43 · answer #4 · answered by Balthor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The closest parallel is genetic engineering of species. That's because it's the field where it's possible for the invention/creature to grow out of human control.
2006-06-30 12:47:45 · answer #5 · answered by A4Q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was concieved by men obviously more intellegent than the one's alive today. It's such a blatant showing of the dangers of playing God.
2006-06-30 12:47:19 · answer #6 · answered by t_von_cloedt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its a cautionary tale about messing around with something that is over your hear.
2006-06-30 12:43:23 · answer #7 · answered by sunshine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a cautionary tale that was way ahead of its time
2006-06-30 12:43:27 · answer #8 · answered by Black Fedora 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, and yes.
2006-06-30 12:48:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋