Happiness From Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Happiness from Knowledge in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein In the 21st century, knowledge is known to be the key to solving all our problems. Whether it is going to school or studying to get ahead of the game, hard work and learning serves for one purpose: a chance to live a better life, which is a desire for all human beings. However, knowledge can sometimes lead to more problems, such as the pollution of the earth’s atmosphere due to the Industrial Revolution or when the members of the Donner Party faced a devastating death after going through a newly discovered “shortcut” to the West. This is certainly the case in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. In her work, Shelley develops the character of the Creature, a deeply driven, curious and deformed …show more content…
As the Creature overhears Felix’s history lessons to Safie, he realizes that he does not have anything of value to humans: “I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections [inflict] upon me; I [try] to dispell them, but sorrow only [increases] with knowledge” (108). As the Creature begins to learn more in depth about human society, he begins to understand that he is not of any importance due to his looks, lack of wealth and social rank. These thoughts lead him to come to the conclusion that he is alone, poor and full of “sorrow”. He does not have anything of value to humans, nor does he have anyone to support and love him, leading him to the “agonizing” conclusion that he is a monster. Similarly, the Creature realizes that he is an aberration after finding out about human standards. After reading the novels Lives, Sorrows of Werter and Paradise Lost, the Creature realizes that the “[increase] of knowledge only [discovers] to [him] more clearly what a wretched outcast [he is]” (119). The Creature begins to compare himself with Adam after reading Paradise Lost. He believes that Adam has many of the things such as a mate, a highly respected creator who takes good care of him and happiness that he deserves, but does not have. This realization leads him to his deep and bitter hatred towards
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