Perils of Creation : Science and Technology in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Abstract

           This article explores the ethical and moral implications of scientific discovery in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), focusing on the destructive potential of unregulated ambition. Through Victor Frankenstein, the first modern scientist, the narrative captures the moral void of creation. He gives life to a being and yet pays no thought to the moral obligations of care. The absence of responsibility and rejection culminate in destruction. The pain of knowledge, when coupled with an absence of compassion, manifests as tragedy. This paper addresses the ethical void in the scientific endeavours portrayed in Frankenstein and links Shelley’s caution to the present-day scenario with artificial intelligence, high-end biotechnology, and genetic engineering. The essence of Shelley’s caution demonstrates the contemporary need to guide scientific pursuits with compassion, ethics, and responsibility. The article demonstrates Shelley's prophetic awareness of the perils of science lacking empathy, illustrating how her caution is relevant to the ethical challenges of the twenty-first century.