Essay: Frankenstein and the theme of ‘Playing God’

Sample Essay

The significant ethical issue presented in Mary Shelley’ “Frankenstein” is the argument of playing God. Victor Frankenstein performed an act of hubris. He created a living creature, a human being which is the job of God and not man. Victor Frankenstein’s craziness for scientific knowledge and experimentation and greed for success drove him to act like God. “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that [he] desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied [him]” (22).

Nevertheless, in the role of God, Victor is so fascinated with the consideration of awakening the lifeless body that he tends to overlook or rather ignore the ethical aspects of this creation that are related to the society itself. His enthusiasm and madness sulked him into believing that there is no reason why creating a life is unethical or unachievable.

It is later when he understands what he has done and what consequences he and his family will have to face. Victor states, “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pain and care I had endeavored to form?”(34). Just like the stem cell research or the genetic engineering research raise a lot of ethical and moral questions, there are a lot of things to ponder upon also when one tries to alter the system of human existence as created by God.

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